Friday, November 9, 2012

A Powerful Noise


           I found a documentary called "A Powerful Noise" this documentary is an alternative media source that shows both women and minorities trying hard to make a difference in the areas that they live in (Noise). These women are different than the women we have seen in the media because they are not being seen as  the stereotypical image only capable of doing a few things correctly, or only being valuable as sex objects(Noise).  They are doing something positive by trying to make a difference even when it seems very hard to do so (Noise). This video sends a positive message that no matter how tough a situation maybe to not give up trying to make a change (Noise). These women had all faced very sever hardships but did not allow those events to stop them (Noise).
                                                          

       Many of the readings such as Stephen Castle's article "European Commission Official Fights for Women in the Boardroom" discusses how an executive is trying to push for more laws and regulations that allow for women to be present in making more decisions for companies, is similar to this documentary because this documentary shows women who are fighting for making a change in  different parts of the world (Noise and Castle 2). This article and this documentary illustrate the different issues women are trying to fight for in different parts of the world, and the difficulties they face (Noise and Castle's 2). Both the documentary and the article discuses women gaining power in different situations and methods. It is powerful to try and help ones community and allow for women to have an equal voice in businesses (Noise and Castle 1).
       In Catherine Saalfield’s “Art and Activism” article she discusses how her video’s and artwork are related to being an activist trying to make a change as well as gain awareness for many issues (Saalfield 263). Saalfield also discusses how when many women try to make film  they often do not get a lot of funding or support for their films (Saalfield 262). She says, “Funding cuts to PBS and the NEA directly hurt filmmakers and indirectly hurt the lesbian and gay community because ITVS and NEA have regularly funded lesbian and gay projects” (Saalfield 70). Saalfield here illustrates that funding cuts to film makers make it even harder for their good work to be seen by the public. Filmmakers who are making a difference are not able to illustrate  their point due to the fact that they are not getting funding for their work. Saalfield is very similar to the women in the documentary “A Powerful Noise” because she discusses activism and change while the women in the film are doing the same as well.
    In Bell Hooks article “In Making Movie Magic” she discusses how movies have messages and show important ideas and themes (Hooks 2). Bell Hooks discusses how even if the audience does not realize it that watching film ideas can still develop and are their even if one does not realize it (Hooks 2).  Hooks says that “at its cultural criticism of movies illuminates, enabling us to see a work in a new way. It enhances the visual experience”(Hooks 4). Here Hooks shows that watching films can allow for criticism to occur about issues in society and allow for new ideas to form as a result. In addition Hooks shows that it is important to look at film critically because there would be important issues and ideas that could be missed if they are not realized (Hooks 3). In chapter four the author discuses women in film and literate and finally comes to the conclusion that women can shape both film and literature in their own method. This author claims that “as Josephine Donovan optimistically claims this kind of gynocriticism can provide a validating social witness that will enable women today and in the future to see, to express, to name their own truths‘ (Donovan 1987,p107), because, as Antonia points out, if there is no heaven ‘this is the only dance we dance’”(Humm 9). Hooks here is showing that within film and media women can show a different view and idea of themselves and allow for a different image to come through their piece (Humm 12). Hooks also shows that allowing for a new image to come through causes for new ideas to be seen about women (Humm 11).
    As previously stated women can make a difference both in film and literature. That different perspective being shown by the film and literature makers cause for new images to form about women. These new images about women allow for them to be seen in a new perspective that is not usually seen in a better positive viewpoint. The documentary and the film making were two examples that showed how women were not living up to the negative viewpoint.Overall when women are seen in a better viewpoint they will be able to be seen in a way that will be better in that they will be valued in a better image.


Works Cited
Castle, Stephen. "European Commission Official Fights for Women in the Boardroom." The New York Times (2012): 1-2. The New York Time. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/world/europe/european-commission-official-fights-for-women-in-the-boardroom.html?pagewanted=2&ref=thefemalefactor>.
"Experimental Film: Women Make Movies." Ed. Debra Zimmerman. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 261-65. Print.
Hooks, Bell. "Introduction "Making Movie Magic"" Reel to Real. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 1-7. Print.
Humm, Maggie. "Author/Autor: Feminist Literary Theory and Feminist Film." Feminism and Film. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 90-110. Print.
A Powerful Noise. Dir. Tom Cappello. Fathom Films., 2008. On Line.
Saalfield, Catherine. "Art and Activism." Film Fatales. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 66-70. Print.
Zimmerman, Debra. "Experimental Film: Women Make Movies." Film Fatales. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 261-65. Print.

Image from : http://www.teenvoices.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/powerful-noise.jpg

http://www.hulu.com/watch/192215
Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv2UIrklRoE

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