Events

Miss Representation, Screening

Academic
 
For NYU Community

Join the Office of Student Activities and Graduate Student Life as we screen the award winning film, Miss Representation. Miss Representation shines a hard light on the representation of women in American media, pop culture, and politcis, looking especially at women in positions of power. If you have an interest in how gender is portrayed in America, how images and language can shape a country's culture, or are interested in learning more about how to rethink and change a society's view then this is a film you will not want to miss.

This 90 minute film will be followed by a discussion of the film's major themes, including discussion of how they may or may not relate to international communities. Popcorn and hot beverages provided.

Additional Information about Miss Representation:

Like drawing back a curtain to let bright light stream in, Miss Representation (90 min; TV-14 DL) uncovers a glaring reality we live with every day but fail to see. Written and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the film exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film challenges the media’s limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful herself.

In a society where media is the most persuasive force shaping cultural norms, the collective message that our young women and men overwhelmingly receive is that a woman’s value and power lie in her youth, beauty, and sexuality, and not in her capacity as a leader. While women have made great strides in leadership over the past few decades, the United States is still 90th in the world for women in national legislatures, women hold only 3% of clout positions in mainstream media, and 65% of women and girls have disordered eating behaviors.

Stories from teenage girls and provocative interviews with politicians, journalists, entertainers, activists and academics, like Condoleezza Rice, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, Margaret Cho, Rosario Dawson and Gloria Steinem build momentum as Miss Representation accumulates startling facts and statistics that will leave the audience shaken and armed with a new perspective.

http://www.missrepresentation.org/