ipl-logo

The Watermelon Woman Analysis

1528 Words7 Pages

Question One: According to some of the scholars we have read during the semester, one of the most important projects of black independent filmmaking is to create an “oppositional gaze” on screen. Through an in-depth discussion of Cheryl Dunye's's film The Watermelon Woman, write about how creation of such oppositional gaze on screen contributes to the creation of a black queer/lesbian memory.

The Watermelon Woman film created an interacial lesbian gaze that will be unforgettable for me due to how attracted these two women were to each other and the events that the gaze lead to. How, as it were, could a film like The Watermelon Woman build up a lesbian, black female gaze. Something that I don’t think has ever been spoken to on the screen …show more content…

While the 1854 journal by Solomon Northup, on which the film is based, portrays a few stories of endeavored escapes and battling back with respect to the oppressed, none of these show up in the film. It shows Northup's passionate resistance to his subjugation and there is one scene where he battles back against the man to whom he was sold, however no one else in the film is by all accounts permitted that. The film stays consistent with Northup's choice to remain on the ranch until he was "lawfully" ready to free himself, yet overlooks the many individuals who reliably did whatever it took to escape oppression: "Despite the conviction of being caught, the forested areas and marshes are, in any case, ceaselessly loaded with runaways," the diary lets us know. Take Harriet Tubman, who was naturally introduced to subjection however intentionally got away – and went ahead to help substantially more individuals to opportunity. "There are two things I have a privilege to and these are demise or freedom either I intend to have," Tubman said. "Nobody will ever take me back alive; I should battle for my freedom." It appears that once the main endeavor to develop a shipboard rebellion by three subjugated men does not succeed, the film is not ready to exhibit whatever other genuine types of

Show More
Related
1443 Words | 6 Pages

The film Girl’s Trip has been applauded for being a celebration of blackness in the primarily white film industry. The majority of the cast and the writers for Girl’s Trip are people of color. The film was much more successful than its “white counterpart” Rough Night in box office revenue and reviews. However, most of the black characters in Girl’s Trip shift through various controlling images throughout the movie. The reason these stereotypes are less obvious than they are in some other films is because each characters portrays multiple stereotypes and different times throughout the film.

Read More
1069 Words | 5 Pages

True Self Lorna Simpson was born in Brooklyn, New York in the 1960s. She studied and graduated from the University of San Diego and the school of visual arts in New York. Simpson creates images that make the audience view the important stereotypes of black women in a new and improved way. Lorna presents us with provocative and life-changing images because she sees black female identity as an overlooked culture. In her images, she expresses her thoughts on the representation that black woman has in our culture she also points out that because of our society black women aren 't able to embrace themselves as who they are because they are influenced by other cultures.

Read More
1193 Words | 5 Pages

I chose this film because it showed how hard the union workers and families worked in fighting racial injustices, and because it inspired myself to move forward with strong ideologies and pride. 2. Stereotyping in mass media was an important concern of Chicana/o media activists because it imprinted a demeaning label by only casting Chicana/o actors with "minor roles: villains, sidekicks, temptresses, where their main function is to provide the protagonists, typically a handsome white

Read More
928 Words | 4 Pages

I. Identification of Work The book, “Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom” was written by Catherine Clinton. Catherine Clinton is the Professor of American History at University of Texas San Antonio. She is extremely qualified due to her intensive work dealing with this time period of American History. She studied sociology and American History at Harvard and then received her Ph.D. at Princeton University.

Read More
1432 Words | 6 Pages

In America, opposition to slavery started with acts of defiance such as “slave resistance”, where African American slaves would rebel in several ways to attain greater freedom. While this “revolution” gathered steam, with slaves often running away from their masters and finding shelter in swamps, lakes or in cities that believed in their cause, more organized forms of opposition, led by reformers like William Garrison (Document E), who founded The American Anti-Slave Society, also started gaining traction. The growing opposition to slavery, by both slaves and their white sympathizers, eventually culminated in a determined abolitionist movement that highlighted the plight of so many and galvanized public opinion against an appalling institution. The abolitionist movement (the organized opposition to slavery) gained momentum in the late 1700s as state after state in the north abolished slavery (Document A), starting with Vermont in 1777.

Read More
676 Words | 3 Pages

In conclusion, this essay is important to know about because this stuff still happens today. Human trafficking exists and people like Harriet Tubman are able to take a stand and work on the problem. People are put into a form of slavery and forced to work there. The modern day underground railroad was established by victims like Harriet Tubman and still works. I hope this inspired you to make a difference and continue her dream of no slavery.

Read More
403 Words | 2 Pages

Harriet Tubman’s character traits played a role in her escape from slavery, because she was brave, smart, and successful. Harriet was so brave that she escaped slavery and came back to save her Family, friends, and other slaves. Harriet Tubman was so brave she was not afraid of getting caught and killed she just went with her heart saved as many slaves as she could because she was so brave and fearless. She was brave because she was not scared to leave the plantation and she was not scared of the consequences if she had got caught.

Read More
332 Words | 2 Pages

Firstly, Tubman took the risk of returning to her old plantation 19 times to rescue upwards of 300 slaves, and didn’t lose a single one in the process.  This shows legitimate bravery because she could’ve easily been captured, or worse, killed,

Read More
981 Words | 4 Pages

None the less. Ben had few options but to continue working as a timber estimator and foreman for his former owner. Although similar manumission stipulation applied to rit and her children. The family chose not to free them despite his free slaves, Ben had the power to challenge their decision. Harriet Tubman decided to escape following about of illness and the death of her owner in 1849.

Read More
2528 Words | 11 Pages

This analysis will focus on questions of gender and notions of femininity existing during the Great Depression in US Culture, which are reproduced through the film itself. To support my thesis, I will analyze the most important key scenes

Read More
729 Words | 3 Pages

In regards to the abolitionist movement, Solomon Northup’s slave narrative was particularly important because it revealed the inhumane treatment, such as the brutal beatings done by masters and overseers, the sexual use of slave women and the merciless separation of families, and in his personal case the abuse of the Fugitive Slave

Read More
1839 Words | 8 Pages

Cultural theories by Kathleen Rowe, Laura Mulvey and Stuart Hall can help the audience seek an explanation to how these stereotypical gender roles are portrayed in the movie and how it can create power for the specific

Read More
2187 Words | 9 Pages

Even the people helping with the Underground Railroad were risking their lives by accommodating these slaves while they were on the run. The enslaved African Americans would do anything for freedom, even if they had to put their lives in jeopardy or even their families. Most slaves wanted to escape the South where they were bound to die because of how bad the slave owner’s were down there. Some slaves were scared of leaving slavery because that was all they knew. Slaves if they escaped would have troubles finding jobs and a safe place for their family.

Read More
940 Words | 4 Pages

Transcendentalists were Americans that believed everyone should be treated equally, so they began six major reform movements. There were many Transcendentalist movements, but the six most important reforms were the prison movement, women’s rights, anti-slavery, temperance, insane and education movement. The prison reform movement was started by the Transcendentalists because they felt that the system was wrong unfair and cruel. All prisoners suffered the same consequences regardless of his or her crime.

Read More
610 Words | 3 Pages

Black women are treated less than because of their ascribed traits, their gender and race, and are often dehumanized and belittled throughout the movie. They are treated like slaves and are seen as easily disposable. There are several moments throughout the film that show the racial, gender, and class inequalities. These moments also show exploitation and opportunity hoarding. The Help also explains historical context of the inequality that occurred during that time period.

Read More

More about The Watermelon Woman Analysis

Related Topics

Open Document