My 'image in conflict' is a vacancy. On arriving at the Goldsmiths' Library (http://www.gold.ac.uk/library/), and making my way to the 'Women's' library, I was shocked not to find any material on Feminist documentary film theory. I had intended to use material found in the 'Women's' library to aid my investigation of Female Documentary Film-makers. This obstacle in the form of a vacancy, whereby the library's material on Female Documentary Film-makers was extremely scarce (even Goldsmiths' specialized 'Women's Library' lacked the material I needed for my research), turned out to be the spark of inspiration for my project.
Rather than turn away from my initial topic (Feminist Documentary Film Theory), this first hurdle didn't hinder but inspired the course of my Documentary Film Project. It was decided that, with the help of Ellie (see her page ‘Eleanor Vaughan’) that I would create an archive on Female Documentary Film-makers, that when finished could be placed in the Goldsmiths' Library to aid and assist future students, as well as filling the unwanted vacancy.
In Diane Waldman and Janet Walker's 'Feminism and Documentary' they state the following (available on line):
"It is only recently that documentary theorists and historians have begun to engage seriously with feminist film theory and to write women back into documentary history." pp. 6.
This possibly explains why it is that material in the Library is so lacking, but it does not afford justification.
(see link to a preview of 'Feminism and Documentary')
Week 2: Archiving Women Back Into Documentary History
The goal of my Documentary Film Project is to create an assembled archive featuring, biographies, filmogrpahies, investigation and analysis focused on the works of chosen Female Documentary Film-makers. This archive will exist in physical form, something tangible to be placed in the library; as well as in blog form to afford a greater accessibility and therefore hopefully achieving the desire to 'archive women back into documentary history' to greater extent.
This process of Archiving in the dual forms also needs to be noted within the project itself. As well as creating a much-needed discourse on Feminist Film Theory, I feel that it is important to note the ramifications and implications of the format I have chosen in creating the discourse.
Week 3: The women, the archive, the blog.
For 2 weeks Ellie and I been formulating our project, and set out the foundations of what it is we want to achieve, within the general topic of 'Feminist Documentary Film Theory/ Female Documentary Film-makers'.
Within this project I feel that it is important to consider the format in which our project is being created, by taking note of the implications of creating a project in blog and archive form.
This week my focus is on the content. The women, the archive, and the blog. I want to focus my ideas and begin a discussion on these three elements of my project, by commencing a breakdown into the specifics of the project.
The Women-
List of Female Documentary Film-makers to be considered-
• Pinny Grylls http://www.invisiblefilms.co.uk/
• Ricki Stern http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0827830/
• Annie Sundberg http://www.breakthrufilms.org/the-filmmakers-bck/
• Charlotte Zweri
• Marta Rodríquez
• Mira Hamermesh http://www.mira-hamermesh.co.uk/
• Mahnaz Afzali http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0012789/
• Kay Mander http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/559726/
• Margot Benacerraf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margot_Benacerraf
• Julie Bridgham http://pipl.com/directory/people/Julie/Bridgham
• Kathleen Shannon
• Jennifer Baichwal http://www.mercuryfilms.ca/index.php?show=1
• Helene Klodawsky http://heleneklodawsky.com/
• Lucía Gajá http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333964/
• Natalia Almada http://www.wmm.com/filmcatalog/makers/fm514.shtml
• Christiane Burkhard
• Sonia Goldenberg
• Joan Churchill http://joanchurchill.com/
• Laura Poitras http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Poitras
• Barbara Kopple http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/55/koppleiv.php
• Angela Melitopoulos http://www.eipcp.net/bio/melitopoulos
• Trinh T. Minh-ha http://www.trinhminh-ha.com/
The Archive and the Blog-
The aim of our original project was to solely create an archive to be placed in the Goldsmiths' Library, filling the vacancy of physical material on 'Feminism and Documentary'. However from previous research I felt that creating a multi-media virtual archive would be better placed at achieving out goals in creating an archive, which fills a void and is accessible. And so through my suggestion we decided to create a blog.
The aim of our original project was to solely create an archive to be placed in the Goldsmiths' Library, filling the vacancy of physical material on 'Feminism and Documentary'. However from previous research I felt that creating a multi-media virtual archive would be better placed at achieving out goals in creating an archive, which fills a void and is accessible. And so through my suggestion we decided to create a blog.
My research into the implications of creating an archive and a blog has thrown up various resources, which I am eager to investigate further. What follows is a preliminary grouping of the research I have started, on 'Blog' and 'Archive' theory.
Firstly the BBC's 'Virtual Revolution' website provided me with a great introduction into the ideas of blog and blogging theory, so anyone interested, and wanting to find out more, should definitely check out their website-
I'll post a link below.
BBC Virtual Revelution- http://www.bbc.co.uk/virtualrevolution/
You can also follwo them on twitter-
'Get short, timely messages from Virtual Revolution. Twitter is a rich source of instantly updated information. It's easy to stay updated on an incredibly wide variety of topics. Join today and follow @BBCDigRev.'
You can also follwo them on twitter-
I'll let Stephen Fry give you a fascinating introduction into the BBC's intriguing interviews that formed a part of the 'Virtual Revolution' series.
Blog theory resources-
Tremayne, M. (2007) Blogging, citizenship, and the future of media. New York: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
O’Reilly, T. (2005) What is Web 2.0: design patterns and business models for the next generation of software. http://oreilly.com/web2/archive/what-is-web-20.html
Elsner, J. and Cardinal, R. (1994) The cultures of collecting. London: Reaktion Books.
Galvez, P. (2004) Thomas Hirschhorn: galerie chantal crousel. ArtForum. May.
Chapman, D. (2010) The virtual revolution: themes and alternative readings.
http://www.open2.net/blogs/scitechnature/index.php/virtualrevolution/?blog=7
http://www.open2.net/blogs/scitechnature/index.php/virtualrevolution/?blog=7
Alexander, G. (2002) eGaia, Growing a peaceful, sustainable Earth through communications. London: Lighthouse Books
Week 4: A part of a Feminist Web?
A visit to London's 'THE SHOWROOM' was a great experience in seeing how other groups/ organisations are attempting to publicise and vocalise 'Feminism and Documentary'. The experience also showed how our individual efforts (mine and Ellie's) are experiencing a becoming. A becoming of a web, interactive and interconnected displays of Feminism and Documentary.
Check out The Showrooms website, for more information- http://www.theshowroom.org/index.html:
"The Showroom is a centre for contemporary art that is focused on a collaborative and process-driven approach to production, be that artwork, exhibitions, discussions, publications, knowledge and relationships.
We are committed to supporting artists who have not previously had significant exposure in London. Our unique focus is on commissioning work that is generated through open and discursive means between artists, specialists, public and local stakeholders, connecting otherwise disparate fields and communities."
Pinny Grylls' 'Invisible Films' is also a great example of a vocalising of Feminism within documentary, I found her website very interesting and intriguing- http://www.invisiblefilms.co.uk/about.html:
"Invisible Films is an independent film production company based in Hackney, East London. Founded in 2002, the company's films have been distributed with acclaim internationally via film festivals, television and the internet."
Week 5: The Journey/ The Frame
Weeks 1 to 4, have been the foundations. These important weeks are where I started my 'journey' the end point being an essay on 'Feminism and Documentary' and the process of 'Blogging'. This journey takes the form of a 10 week process, in a blog format that will frame the final essay. Now at week 5 the mid-point of my journey, what lies ahead is still unclear but the path behind me I am pleased say is now more trodden. I feel at this mid-point I have already established something meaningful and accessible, thus making an easy journey for any future persons investigation into 'Feminism and Documentary'.
Week 6: The New
From the research that I have carried out thus far, my so called 'foundations', I have drawn a link between the issues of Feminism and Documentary, and Blogging. The connective thread (or web, if we are to continue with that analogy) is the 'new'. The forthcoming weeks of my discussion will be concerning the new.
I have found a short film made by Pinny Grylls, made inconjunction with Dove, as an advertising campaign. The film explores women's first, and face value reactions to other women- dealing with issues of 'the other, the unrepresented, intuition, and the new'. I feel this short effectively demonstrates and represents the next stage in my Documentary Project process.
Week 7: History of the Feminist Documentary
We have noted a disparity within the field of film theory, the archive and the blog- whereby the topic of this blog, 'Feminism and Documentary was wrongfully omitted. Somewhere between Feminist Film Theory and Documentary Film Theory, the pages got lost, Feminist Documentary Film Theory is missing.
Thus when we decide it is time to fill the vacancy, we are adding something that wasn't there before, something new. Diane Waldman and Janet Walker's 'Feminism and Documentary' goes some way to explain why and how 'Feminist Documentary' is 'new'.
Week 8: History of the Blog
The 'Blog' is a very modern phenomenon, extremely different to the act of diary keeping, the blog is not hidden under the mattress a private and personal text. The blog demands our attention, without it, the blog does not exist. Last year I wrote a blog on 'John Soane: The Original Blogger' , within this essay styled as a blog, I explored the notion that the famous architect Sir John Soane was the original blogger.
The essay explored the ideas of blogging, what it means to blog, how this is different from keeping a diary, the history of the blog, and how the defination of text as a blog implicates the author and the subject.
I'll provide a link to this Essay/Blog as i feel that is very useful over-view of this thing called 'Blogging'
http://johnsoaneblogger.blogspot.com/
Week 9: Perfectly Poised to Reap the Benefits
Blogging all started with people writing about their daily events, the mundane, the menial, and the down right uninteresting. Somehow these Blogs gained a following, and the hobby and action of blogging became mainstream. Today there are far more interesting and diverse blogs, and blogging has even become a legitimate form of communication, publication and journalism. In Mark Treymayne’s ‘Blogging, citizenship, and the future of media’ a pivotal essay by Sharon Meraz, discusses the importance of Blogging. Meraz illustrates the importance of the Blog as anew media source. Disputing the idea that the Internet could be harbouring a singularity of privileged voices, Meraz reveals the Internet and Blog to be a true form of democracy. Blogs are online forums where politics, society, and still the mundane can be openly discussed.
In 'Films from the Margins: Women, desire and the documentary film in India' Swati Bandi states the following:
"Feminist documentary film can be described as explicitly engaging in facilitating articulations of feminist desires for women's autonomy and control over their bodies, voices and therefore stories."pp 45
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=-ouV1ya_c-4C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
I feel that this understanding of both the 'Blog' and 'Feminism and Documentary' as new, affords the opportunity for both areas to exploit each other. the Blog and the internet are a perfect vehicle for this previously forgotten and omitted topic, vocalising and making it visible.
Week 10: Final Essay- 'Blogging Women back into Documentary History'
A visit to London's 'THE SHOWROOM' was a great experience in seeing how other groups/ organisations are attempting to publicise and vocalise 'Feminism and Documentary'. The experience also showed how our individual efforts (mine and Ellie's) are experiencing a becoming. A becoming of a web, interactive and interconnected displays of Feminism and Documentary.
Check out The Showrooms website, for more information- http://www.theshowroom.org/index.html:
"The Showroom is a centre for contemporary art that is focused on a collaborative and process-driven approach to production, be that artwork, exhibitions, discussions, publications, knowledge and relationships.
We are committed to supporting artists who have not previously had significant exposure in London. Our unique focus is on commissioning work that is generated through open and discursive means between artists, specialists, public and local stakeholders, connecting otherwise disparate fields and communities."
Pinny Grylls' 'Invisible Films' is also a great example of a vocalising of Feminism within documentary, I found her website very interesting and intriguing- http://www.invisiblefilms.co.uk/about.html:
"Invisible Films is an independent film production company based in Hackney, East London. Founded in 2002, the company's films have been distributed with acclaim internationally via film festivals, television and the internet."
Week 5: The Journey/ The Frame
Weeks 1 to 4, have been the foundations. These important weeks are where I started my 'journey' the end point being an essay on 'Feminism and Documentary' and the process of 'Blogging'. This journey takes the form of a 10 week process, in a blog format that will frame the final essay. Now at week 5 the mid-point of my journey, what lies ahead is still unclear but the path behind me I am pleased say is now more trodden. I feel at this mid-point I have already established something meaningful and accessible, thus making an easy journey for any future persons investigation into 'Feminism and Documentary'.
Week 6: The New
From the research that I have carried out thus far, my so called 'foundations', I have drawn a link between the issues of Feminism and Documentary, and Blogging. The connective thread (or web, if we are to continue with that analogy) is the 'new'. The forthcoming weeks of my discussion will be concerning the new.
I have found a short film made by Pinny Grylls, made inconjunction with Dove, as an advertising campaign. The film explores women's first, and face value reactions to other women- dealing with issues of 'the other, the unrepresented, intuition, and the new'. I feel this short effectively demonstrates and represents the next stage in my Documentary Project process.
Week 7: History of the Feminist Documentary
We have noted a disparity within the field of film theory, the archive and the blog- whereby the topic of this blog, 'Feminism and Documentary was wrongfully omitted. Somewhere between Feminist Film Theory and Documentary Film Theory, the pages got lost, Feminist Documentary Film Theory is missing.
Thus when we decide it is time to fill the vacancy, we are adding something that wasn't there before, something new. Diane Waldman and Janet Walker's 'Feminism and Documentary' goes some way to explain why and how 'Feminist Documentary' is 'new'.
Week 8: History of the Blog
The 'Blog' is a very modern phenomenon, extremely different to the act of diary keeping, the blog is not hidden under the mattress a private and personal text. The blog demands our attention, without it, the blog does not exist. Last year I wrote a blog on 'John Soane: The Original Blogger' , within this essay styled as a blog, I explored the notion that the famous architect Sir John Soane was the original blogger.
The essay explored the ideas of blogging, what it means to blog, how this is different from keeping a diary, the history of the blog, and how the defination of text as a blog implicates the author and the subject.
I'll provide a link to this Essay/Blog as i feel that is very useful over-view of this thing called 'Blogging'
Week 9: Perfectly Poised to Reap the Benefits
Blogging all started with people writing about their daily events, the mundane, the menial, and the down right uninteresting. Somehow these Blogs gained a following, and the hobby and action of blogging became mainstream. Today there are far more interesting and diverse blogs, and blogging has even become a legitimate form of communication, publication and journalism. In Mark Treymayne’s ‘Blogging, citizenship, and the future of media’ a pivotal essay by Sharon Meraz, discusses the importance of Blogging. Meraz illustrates the importance of the Blog as anew media source. Disputing the idea that the Internet could be harbouring a singularity of privileged voices, Meraz reveals the Internet and Blog to be a true form of democracy. Blogs are online forums where politics, society, and still the mundane can be openly discussed.
In 'Films from the Margins: Women, desire and the documentary film in India' Swati Bandi states the following:
"Feminist documentary film can be described as explicitly engaging in facilitating articulations of feminist desires for women's autonomy and control over their bodies, voices and therefore stories."pp 45
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=-ouV1ya_c-4C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
I feel that this understanding of both the 'Blog' and 'Feminism and Documentary' as new, affords the opportunity for both areas to exploit each other. the Blog and the internet are a perfect vehicle for this previously forgotten and omitted topic, vocalising and making it visible.
Week 10: Final Essay- 'Blogging Women back into Documentary History'
We have reached the end of our project, for now. We have successfully created a virtual and physical archive in the attempt to archive women back into documentary history. However, due to the level in which we have been enthused and inspired by this project this is not categorically final. We intend to continue in our own efforts to archive women back into documentary history through the management of our blogs, and assist other efforts in the performances of archiving web. At this stage our last thing to do is to hand in our physical archive to the Goldsmtihs library, to aid future students. We have already received positive feedback on our virtual blog, and an exciting number of page hits has been achieved. We therefore hope our physical archive will be equally successful in its format.
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