Tag: film

Race and sexuality in film workshop at Ladyfest Oxford (2009)

Hello all, I’m organising a workshop for Oxford’s Ladyfest where we’ll be discussing race and sexuality in film and media. If you happen to be in the area, please come! Ever wondered why images of ethnic minority women in film and media are often reduced to stereotypes or simply pushed into the background to the… Continue reading Race and sexuality in film workshop at Ladyfest Oxford (2009)

Guest post: Redefining Malay womanhood in Yasmin Ahmad's films

The following was written by guest contributor and fellow Malaysian feminist, Mohani Niza. Writing on the “New Malaysian Femininity’ in the films of Yasmin Ahmad, she presents a Malay womanhood that contrasts squarely with the misogyny and whore/virgin stereotypes typically found in Malaysian cinema. In 2004, Yasmin Ahmad, famed for her Petronas advertisements depicting multi-racial… Continue reading Guest post: Redefining Malay womanhood in Yasmin Ahmad's films

Cinema of sexism: Misogyny in Malay films

Because woman did not fight back, man quickly took over the advantage and made her the scapegoat for all his vices and fears. […] He was intimidated by woman’s sexual desire, and so he invented the mutually exclusive virgin and whore. […] He was ashamed of growing old and ugly, and even more ashamed of… Continue reading Cinema of sexism: Misogyny in Malay films

Truly Asia: I don't want to sleep alone (2006)

In Malaysia, vacuous horror flicks and Hollywood copycats rule the local cinemas. They promise nothing but instant sensory gratification yet still manage to attain box-office success. In many of such films glamorous personalities compliment the glitzy and oh-so aspirational KL scene. They’re good-looking, they’ve got star quality, who cares if they’ve got no talent, but… Continue reading Truly Asia: I don't want to sleep alone (2006)

Every woman's "big day" – what is it for?

Originally written by Bidisha at The Guardian’s Comment Is Free under the title, Wedlock throws away the key: Wedlock. It’s the kind of word that ought to send chills down a modern woman’s spine. It describes with deadly aptness the prison-like qualities of that institution and evokes a cold sense of confinement and consignment. An… Continue reading Every woman's "big day" – what is it for?

Weekend round-up of favourite online reads 11/1

My current obsession with feminist science fiction led me to brilliant reviews of Vandana Singh’s The Woman Who Thought She Was a Planet at both The F-Word and Ultrabrown. In my earlier post on Islam and feminism in SF I mentioned a few times about how the genre is used to critique some grand narratives… Continue reading Weekend round-up of favourite online reads 11/1

Open thread: Films you've watched this year and loved, or hated.

I’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to watch pretty much any film I want whilst living here in the UK. And if you, like me, love watching films, you would agree that there’s no place better than where there is little to no form of censorship. In the last few years, I have been… Continue reading Open thread: Films you've watched this year and loved, or hated.

A little more on feminist porn…

The article at the Guardian today perhaps further substantiates my previous article on feminist porn and its growing influence in academia and the arts: It could only happen in the country that gave us Emmanuelle, Monica Bellucci in an anal rape scene and two young actresses romping through a hyper-violent bad-girl road movie with real-life… Continue reading A little more on feminist porn…