war zone
Found via feministing.com & mediaed.com
War Zone
What does it feel like to be a woman on the street in a cultural environment that does nothing to discourage men from heckling, following, touching or disparaging women in public spaces?
Filmmaker Maggie Hadleigh-West believes that the streets are a War Zone for women. Armed with only a video-camera, she both demonstrates this experience and, by turning and confronting her abusers, reclaims space that was stolen from her.
War Zone is an excellent discussion starter for both men and women. It gives voice and expression to a disturbing daily aspect of being a woman in this society. It also gives men a direct personal feeling for what harassing behavior looks and feels like to a woman. Young men who may think such behavior is cool or funny will be forced to rethink their assumptions.
War Zone is a classroom, documentary edition of Maggie Hadleigh-West’s first film by the same title. Her film has been screened and applauded at scores of festivals in the U.S. and abroad. She has appeared to discuss the film on the Today Show, CBS News, 20/20, BBC, NPR, CNN, and Eye to Eye with Connie Chung.
Her point is definitely interesting, and I agree with her: a war zone, yes.–but it’s disconcerting how she uses the additional camera’s gaze to portray her interacting with the men with her camera, but without using her footage. Who films that? The shots of her neckline, and the constant “sorry”s and “sirs”s and nervous laughter… Whose perspective do we see this from? Hers? Someone watching her?
Comment by né — September 8, 2009 @ 7:19 pm
excellent, excellent observations. the extra footage was also odd to me–you pretty much picked up on what I was thinking about. we should discuss at some point. - nikki
Comment by admin — September 9, 2009 @ 4:01 am