In class we discussed the theory of Essentialism. Do women directors create different films than men because of their gender? Is there a clear connection between gender and art? To me, the answer is no. People can argue both sides. To me it is not important to know the gender of the director before watching a film. If you know the gender you will be looking specifically for things to agree with your already preset assumptions.
After watching The Bigamist, I would not have imagined it was created by a female director. Throughout the film we followed a male lead who cheats on his wife. The audience at times, feels bad for this man who has been cheating on his wife and living a double life. Why was the female director not casting a negative shadow of this male lead? One would think that the female director would want to make this man appear as evil as she could. It is a way to send a message through a film that cheating is not accepted. At the conclusion of the film, when the man’s double life is revealed, neither of his two wives appeared to be that upset; an unexpected ending.
The Bigamist is a good example of showing that women directors can create a film that does not follow a stereotype. The film is shot in a way that the audience would no suspect a female director. I feel that the Essentialism theory does not apply to all films or any at all. Women can create films that are not connected to their gender. A female director does not have to create a feminist film. Female directors are few and far between in this male dominated career and it is important to recognize their success.
Cool Info-
http://www.imagesjournal.com/issue05/reviews/ida-bigamist.htm
http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/L/htmlL/lupinoida/lupinoida.htm
3 comments:
I could not agree with you more. I believe as well as you do that women are stereotyped to the point of individuals thinking they can predict the material, that in this case a female director would portray in her film. It is important to remember that it is about the quality of the material not the gender of the director that makes the film a great film. In the "Bigamst" there is no indication or glitch that leads the viewer to presume the director is female. That is a great example of how essentialism does not always apply in analyzing women directed films.
I totally agree with you that the essentialism theory is false. the whole time i watched the film, i was not aware it was a female director if i was not told.. Like you said why wouldn't have she made the male character looked upon in a negative light.
I agree with your statement that "The Bigamist is a good example of showing that women directors can create a film that does not follow a stereotype" This goes along with the essentialism theroy we discussed in class that basically states that women directors would have a certain approach that would be obvious that the film was directed by a women and Ida Lupino did an excellent job breaking that sterotype.
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