Between Gazes

Camelia Elias

concerns in feminist/queer film concerns in feminist/queer film theorytheory

representationrepresentation identificationidentification subject positions (visibility)subject positions (visibility)

Man/womanMan/womanManManWomanWoman

Heterosexual/homosexualHeterosexual/homosexualHeterosexualHeterosexualHomosexualHomosexual

Teresa de Laurentis:Teresa de Laurentis:

1.sexual difference (women are, or 1.sexual difference (women are, or want, something different from men)want, something different from men)

2.sexual indifference: (women are, or 2.sexual indifference: (women are, or want, the same as men)want, the same as men)

Homosexual (lesbian)/hommosexual Homosexual (lesbian)/hommosexual (compulsary heterosexual)(compulsary heterosexual)

representation/experiencerepresentation/experience

representation is related to representation is related to experience by codes that change experience by codes that change historicallyhistorically

reading is a re-writing of the textreading is a re-writing of the text writing is a rereading of one’s writing is a rereading of one’s

experienceexperience

Strategies of representationStrategies of representation

Strategic ambiguityStrategic ambiguity Polysemous, multiple interpretationsPolysemous, multiple interpretations AppropriatenessAppropriateness SymbolicSymbolic InvisibleInvisible According to preferenceAccording to preference

reading performancesreading performances

1. 1. oppositional readingsoppositional readingsthrough resistancethrough resistance

2. 2. negotiated readingsnegotiated readingsthrough questioning through questioning minus pleasureminus pleasure

adrienne richadrienne rich

woman-identified experience: the woman-identified experience: the experience in which women are not experience in which women are not dependent on men but find their dependent on men but find their strength through their relationship strength through their relationship with one another, regardless of their with one another, regardless of their identityidentity

compulsory heterosexuality: the compulsory heterosexuality: the ideology that teaches women to be ideology that teaches women to be dependent on mendependent on men

literal representationsliteral representations

literal representationsliteral representations of of friendship friendship

bonded by tragedybonded by tragedy

woman-identified experience:woman-identified experience:

heterosexualityheterosexuality

symbolic representationssymbolic representations

symbolic representations symbolic representations of of friendship friendship

bonded by desirebonded by desire

woman-identified experience:woman-identified experience:

lesbianism:lesbianism:

symbolic representationssymbolic representations

the beehive scenethe beehive scene the lake scenethe lake scene the biblical scene the biblical scene

"Whither thou goest, I will go. Whither "Whither thou goest, I will go. Whither thou lodgest, I will lodge. Thy people thou lodgest, I will lodge. Thy people shall be my people."shall be my people."

the death scene (Ruth’s death)the death scene (Ruth’s death) the love until death do us part scenethe love until death do us part scene

narrative levels/themesnarrative levels/themes

Main plot:Main plot:Two parallel stories informed by the Two parallel stories informed by the

theme of friendshiptheme of friendship Subplot:Subplot:

1. story: lesbianism1. story: lesbianism2. story: feminism2. story: feminism

I never get mad, Mrs. Threadgood. Never! The I never get mad, Mrs. Threadgood. Never! The way I was raised it was bad manners. Well I got way I was raised it was bad manners. Well I got mad and it felt terrific! I felt like I could beat the mad and it felt terrific! I felt like I could beat the shit outta all those punks! Excuse my language, shit outta all those punks! Excuse my language, just beat them to a pulp! Beat them 'til they just beat them to a pulp! Beat them 'til they begged for mercy. Towanda, the Avenger! After I begged for mercy. Towanda, the Avenger! After I wipe out all the punks of this world I'll take on the wipe out all the punks of this world I'll take on the wife beaters, like Frank Bennett, and machine wife beaters, like Frank Bennett, and machine gun their genitals. And I'll put tiny little bombs in gun their genitals. And I'll put tiny little bombs in Penthouse and Playboy, so they'll explode when Penthouse and Playboy, so they'll explode when you open 'em. And I'll ban all fashion models who you open 'em. And I'll ban all fashion models who weigh less then 130 pounds. I'll give half the weigh less then 130 pounds. I'll give half the military budget to people over 65 and declare military budget to people over 65 and declare wrinkles sexually desirable. Towanda righter of wrinkles sexually desirable. Towanda righter of wrongs, Queen beyond compare!wrongs, Queen beyond compare!