• Why have Hollywood filmmakers been “raiding crypts”?
• In describing the “Great Woman Theory” of history, Ms. Dargis uses the word “distaff”. What does “distaff” mean? (A distaff is the part of the spinning wheel where the thread is collected - it has come to mean of or pertaining to a woman's world or a woman's work.) What is the “Great Woman Theory” of history? (Every great woman is supported by a great man.)
• What does the film “Amelia” neglect to portray? Why, according to the article, does the film shy away from these complexities?
• Why do you suppose female stories have become “so marginalized on American movies screens”?
• Would you rather see the story of a “still-breathing” famous man or a famous dead woman? Why?
2. Talk about what makes a good story. Whether it’s about a living man or a dead woman, what elements sell in bookstores and at the box office? Make a list on the board. Ask students to share stories of women they know (or know of) who would make good subjects for novels, movies or other narratives. What about their lives is “story-worthy”?
3. Show students the video “Girls and High School Wrestling” (about a female wrestler)
4. After viewing, ask students why this girl’s life makes a compelling story for viewers of any gender. Ask students why they think stories like these are generally neglected by mainstream filmmakers and other storytellers. Are the stories of ordinary women as powerful as those of famous women? In what ways might they be more powerful?
5. Then, show students the Times interactive feature “A Woman’s World” and allow them to peruse them individually, if possible. As students look at the photos, have them choose one woman whose story interests them and complete the assignment on the overhead, Saying What’s Unsaid.
Saying What's Unsaid:
Choose one picture from the photos on "A Woman's World" Using the information you get from 1) viewing the picture, 2) reading the caption, and 3) reading the article that is linked to each picture, create a dialogue for the person/people in the photo. In other words, if they could speak to the whole world for two minutes, what would they say about their life?
6. To close class, have students share their completed handouts with a partner or in small groups, and discuss why this subject makes a good subject for a story or film. How does it challenge our expectations of and for “female” stories? How is it a universal, human story? Why is it important that this story be heard?
Homework Collected: Movie Questions
Homework Given: Saying What's Unsaid, due by Tuesday, November 10th, Occasional Paper due by December 7th, NWP – Post something by the 17th of November - can be something you’ve already written, One Pager due on Friday, November 6th
Handouts given out: Movie Questions
To Read: “Now Starring at the Movies”
