~woman/Cinema~Women/cinema

woman/Cinema~Women/cinema

Film and New Languages

Film could be considered a language of its own, but the language that it uses still symbolizes the same binary order that has dominated our society with its phallocentric perspective. Recently, women have, finally, broken through the male-dominated film industry to further film study and analyze the dominant views of women in films as the subject. She has even reached past the mirror of awareness of her exploitation and has settled on the semiotics that foregrounds the language film speaks. This phallocentric language has been spoken by women for centuries. American Feminists are fighting for liberation from the male gaze and want to use the female gaze. French Feminists have come to the conclusion that addressing the use of the dominant language will begin a multiplicity of languages. French feminists have decided that women have the capability to construct a new language. Women have learned a bisexuality, out of necessity, which has synthesized the masculine with their, otherness, feminine. It is time to speak, instead of just talking. And Seeing a different view. Speaking for women requires a feminine language that accepts the multiplicities of languages. One language that has always been available for women to express their Words is Writing. Writing is considered, by Helene Cixous, a device that breaks down sexual differences. (Even though the phallocentric language can be used.) Writing can be changed and reformed, such as slang, dialect, linguistics, etc. Writing can be a major feminine influence for language. Writing, for our purpose, is used in film to express a theme, a plot in a screenplay or as a criticism of the film. Film criticism gives us another perspective of what the film is trying to convey; albeit society, culture, politics, or any "ism." Film criticism , for this newsletter for/by women, will be used to transmit many feminine languages that are/are not related to the current dominant language - masculinism. We want to discuss the past, present and future of film where women are concerned and transmit these theories to you. We want you to become bilingual as a nomad of language that never stagnates and never loses her way of communicating as a woman. Enjoy the many views on films in the newsletter.

Excerpts from woman/Cinema~Women/cinema

woman/Cinema~Women/cinema is Sheila Fram-Kulik's project to take on film. The newsletter is published with critical essays on films that emphasize the multiplicity of feminisms throughout the world. Included in the newsletter are Internet addresses for your enjoyment and education and the writers' addresses for comments on their essays. Sheila M. Fram-Kulik, is the editor and founder of woman/Cinema~Women/cinema. The newsletter was begun in November 1996. Sheila has a B.A. in English/Creative Writing and Women's Studies Graduate Certificate (emphasis on Feminist Film Studies) from Old Dominion University. She had worked in television as a writer before continuing her studies for her certificate. Sheila is originally from Uniontown, Pennsylvania where she met her life partner and bestfriend, Aaron. Together they raise their beautiful felines, Corey and Alex.