Happy Thanksgiving all!
This is a call for your HELP. I am writing big papers for both my Philosophy and CHID classes about Reel Grrls. This is because we are awesome, of course. For my Philosophy class I am writing about the continual struggle and movement of, and need for women's rights. For my CHID class I'll be bring in various ideas from the Englightenment and the desire for information etc.
I would like your input to use as quotes for my paper. Tell me anything, really ANYTHING! I would like to hear from anyone and everyone. The grrls, mentors and staff. Post here. Email me. Call me.
Tell me about:
1. Why RG is important to you? Why is media literacy important?
2. What have you learned? Why do you study media and film?
3. What is it like for you to be a female in today's society?
4. What have you learned about yourself at RG? Talents, Identity, Questions, Ideas etc.?
5. How has working with other women mentors and grrls your age affected you? How do you observe multi-generational collaboration at RG? How does RG work to reverse hierarchy within our program?
Thanks for your input.
Soon,
m
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4 comments:
1). Reel Grrls is important to me because it is an outlet that allows me to pursue an artistic interest in the elements of film. Media Literacy is important because the Media is an integral part of our society and should be understood so it isnt misused.
2). Everything I know about film I learned at Reel Grrls, not even joking. I study media/film because it is an amazing communication tool that i believe should be used as expetly as possible.
3). As a female in today's society I am usually treated equally and blah blah blah, the only thing is sometimes people get looks on their faces as i'm trying to do something, that just scream "imcompetent". I dont know if thats because of just me or my sex. However either way it is disheartening.
4). I've gained a critical eye, an idea how to come up with good ideas, and an ability to handle equiptment such as cameras and final cut.
5). Working wth female mentors is a ton of fun, it feels like working with the same age group. i mean we all act about 6 years old. no just kidding, but we do get along flawlessly. Nobody plays the age card or anything. I think this multigenerational collaboration allows us to benefit from years of experience and difference in background, keeping us diverse in our thinking.
hope this helps,
Camille
Thanks, Camille!! You rock. =) C'mon on you other people, I know you got it in ya....
m
1. Why RG is important to you? Why is media literacy important?
Reel Grrls has been a huge influence on my life. Professionally, it has allowed me to pursue my passion for media used for positive social change in a way that actually pays my bills, something that I once thought might be impossible. Personally, it has provided me with a community in which I find common values and passions, and which has become very much like a family. I love being a part of an organization that means so much to me, and being able to positively influence the lives of young women who I think are so cool!
The media literacy component of our program is one of my favorite parts, and something that gives the program meaning and makes it unique. Ever since becoming a media activist I have believed that my role should be interpreting and critiquing the corporate media as well as creating my own media in response. I don’t believe that it’s really possible to create thoughtful alternative media without first making a conscious effort to understand and interpret mainstream media. So that’s what I think the media literacy piece brings to the table.
2. What have you learned? Why do you study media and film?
Working here has furthered my professional development tremendously. I now know what it means not just to make my own media, but to support others in making their voices heard through filmmaking in a way that nourishes me also. I understand the difference between showing/telling youth how to make films and guiding and supporting youth in making films. I now believe that passing on my skills is a truly integral part of working for media justice. And that’s why I got into studying media and film in the first place; because I think it’s the best way for me to add my grain of sand to the struggle for social change. And, oh yeah, because I love movies!
3. What is it like for you to be a female in today's society?
Because I am a relatively privileged person (white, middle class, educated, living in a part of the world where my queerness is generally accepted) I’ve been lucky enough to not have to face too much discrimination in my life. However, being a woman working in a technical field has come with a lot of challenges for me. Countless times I have been setting up my own equipment at an event only to be talked down to by men in charge of tech (“are you sure you want to be putting your mixer there?”), or asked ridiculously basic questions when trying to buy or troubleshoot high-end equipment in stores (“do you know what a headphone jack looks like?”). My own father once said to me that I shouldn’t bother trying to figure out what was wrong with his stereo because he was going to take it to a professional (hello, I AM a professional!). So that has been really frustrating, and I expect it’s something I’ll be dealing with my whole life. Which is why being in an environment like Reel Grrls is such a great experience to combat these frustrations.
4. What have you learned about yourself at RG? Talents, Identity, Questions, Ideas etc.?
I think I’ve learned that I can be really strong in a supporting role, and as a delegator. I’ve definitely grown a lot as an educator. My own tech skills have also improved a lot, because you learn so much by teaching something. And my troubleshooting skills have gone way up! Also, I think I’m a lot better now at admitting the things I don’t know and working towards figuring them out, because you learn a lot more that way. I’ve learned that it’s important for me to be in a working environment where I feel like I can be my whole self, like I don’t have to hold back part of my personality. Because bringing all of myself to the table at Reel Grrls is what makes real connections with the grrls possible, which makes all the other work we do possible.
5. How has working with other women mentors and grrls your age affected you? How do you observe multi-generational collaboration at RG? How does RG work to reverse hierarchy within our program?
I love the intergenerational piece at Reel Grrls! It is so much fun to have real interaction with younger and older women together. The environment really fosters mutual respect and understanding, and creating a comfortable space for everyone to be themselves. We are all adults here, regardless of age, and everyone’s voice holds equal weight. I think the specific ways that our mentors and staff have learned to teach and support is an active way to reverse the age hierarchies of our society (example: our basic camera workshop, in which peer mentors explain the manual functions of a professional grade camera in a simple way, then immediately give every girl the chance to try each function, regardless of whether or not they have touched any kind of camera before).
Lila, you are bomb.com
Thanks! See you soon.
m
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