Comments on: Male Director Egos on Display at Cannes

By: Rosemary Carstens

Rosemary Carstens — Thu, 21 May 2009 20:53:00 +0000

Here’s what I think on the topic of marketing our creative efforts, whether as writers, artists, directors, or whatever. Women need to step up. Our culture says we should be modest about our accomplishments. Self-disparagement as a way of confronting men is encouraged (“Well, I may not be fully informed, but . . .[and then a brilliant analysis]). Women in creative arenas are often uncomfortable promoting themselves, but it is a tool that needs to be well-wielded these days to get media coverage and a spotlight focused on our work–it’s an information age and we need to be well-versed in how to make the most of it and not be shy about doing it. It’s like money and power for women–there is no shame in having it or wanting it. It’s the style you employ in the process that is important.

By: Elisabeth

Elisabeth — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:51:53 +0000

I for one wish some women directors would come out with this kind of provocative statement. Tarantino’s doesn’t bother me because yes, directors, novelist or playwrights play god with their characters; Von Trier is a provocateur whose films actually interest me, even when they’re failure. Women should be able to make similar movies and say similar things, no matter how blowhardy we think they are.

As for the reception they would get if they did, I guess it wouldn’t be all that dissimilar to the one QT and LVT encountered: amusement (“here they go again”) and then going on to the actual movie.

Come on, let’s go out there with manifestos!

By: Allison

Allison — Thu, 21 May 2009 02:44:22 +0000

Here is a Huffpost article about von Triers’ film. It sounds disgusting:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/20/lars-von-triers-sex-and-g_n_205953.html

By: THomai in L.A.

THomai in L.A. — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:20:14 +0000

Proving my point about male entitlement.

By: grrljock

grrljock — Wed, 20 May 2009 15:30:28 +0000

Sigh. I think it’s the same-old, same-old attitude, in which male directors are expected to have huge egos so that their pronouncements are put in that context, whereas female directors are not. The article on Tarantino attempts to put some nuance in his claim, and the one on von Trier, even as it mentioned the ‘unforgivable misogyny’ in his latest film, also noted beauty in the film.

Female directors making claims like von Trier or Tarantino would be treated like a b%^*#h (I find this such a hateful word), and their movies would be completely thrashed.