Agnes Varda
During this trip we got to go visit the grave site of Agnes Varda, a renowned filmmaker. Today I learned that she started off as a photographer and later entered the realm of film. It was new to her, but she saw that as a strength that helped her step outside the box. Most of her work was centered around women. And despite working in a male dominated profession she was accepted, seen, and recognized in her own right for her amazing work. I was more impressed the more I learned about her. I was especially impressed with how she saw that her unique perspective could provide something worthwhile. She had faith in herself and became an icon.
She was iconic in the sense that she was a pioneer of women in cinema. Not only that but she was one of the founders of the new wave in film. She only died about five years ago. I personally feel that she showed that women in film have something to say. Maybe it is different from the male perspective, but she showed that her view is equally valid and influential. Also she provided the world with thought provoking art that still impacts people today. When I watched Cleo from 5 to 7, I found myself thinking about the difference between placing worth in beauty verses seeing beauty in the lives and worth of others. She had some important things to say and they can still be heard today.
I loved visiting her grave and seeing the influence of one of her films present at the gravesite. There were multiple heart shaped potatoes set across the tomb, referencing her “Gleaners and I” film. We also went and visited her house, number 86, on the street named after the scientist who invented photography. People chose to represent her most by giving her a mural, so as not to change the name of the street because she loved her street name. I like that she was commemorated with an image because she worked with images, people, forms and figures. To me this seems very poetic. It also allowed for pieces of her film to be incorporated with her commemoration, which is a huge part of who she is. Finally I also simply liked that the flowers around her grave were bold and red like her iconic hair. She was a bold one and I like the way she was boldly commemorated.
I loved reading your blog Anna! I agree that she was a pioneer of women in cinema and I really liked how you talked about how she worked in a male dominant profession. Although she was accepted for her work, this obstacle of film being a male-dominanted industry is definitely still in existence today. We talked in our discussion about how women directors do not win as many awards or get recognized as much as their male peers and so I am glad you touched on that in your blog!!
ReplyDeleteHi Anna. This is Prof. Hegstrom. I really like the details you included in this post (especially the part about the potatoes on her grave)!
ReplyDeleteThis was such an amazing blog post Anna! I love how you talked about the fact that she was a pioneer in cinema. She really changed the film industry and strengthened Paris's status as a cultural capital. Her contributions to the film industry are astounding and cannot be overlooked!
ReplyDeleteGreat job queen!!!! I like how you talked a little bit about how it's hard to be a woman in the filmmaking industry but then you flip it in almost a positive way in the sense that women are less known so therefore have new and more to say than men might. (might not have been your intention but it's something I got out of reading your blog post :)) And I think that this is still relevant today like you said, she only died five years ago!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I really enjoyed reading this :) I loved that you specified the obstacle Agnes faced of the male dominated profession she was interested in as well as women not being seen as being as influential as men. It is impressive that she was so successful in her work even with these obstacles. I think this issue exists today as Agnes Varda’s time of living was not too long ago.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Anna! Learning about Agnes in Paris adds to the cities value as a cultural capital. There are not that many famous french female filmmakers, and Paris celebrating one of the few shows that it is progressive and helpful. It also shows that Varda was a force to be reckoned with, and changed film history.
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