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Postcolonial feminism and non-fiction cinema: gendered subjects in Alba Sotorra's war documentaries

  • Identification data

    Identifier: imarina:9265243
    Authors:
    Fonoll-Tassier, AnnaBaro, Nuria AraunaEsteve, Laia Quilez
    Abstract:
    This paper explores how documentary cinema in war contexts can challenge gender representations. To do so, we adopt a feminist and postcolonial approach to analyze the work of Catalan nonfiction filmmaker Alba Sotorra in Kurdistan, Afghanistan and Catalonia. In her films, Sotorra positions herself close to a series of subjects absorbed by wars and armed conflicts that (re)define their identities while acting beyond gender stereotypes. In particular, the paper analyzes the modes of production and representational strategies of two of Sotorra's latest feature films, Game Over and Commander Arian, documentaries with which the filmmaker aims at overcoming the visual exploitation of alterity. After an introduction to Sotorra, and a brief revision of the theory of postcolonial feminist cinema, our argument unfolds in four parts. Firstly, we reflect on cinematic representations of women and men at war; secondly, we introduce our methodology, based on in-depth interviews with the director to support our film analysis; thirdly, we contrast our hypotheses by means of close-readings of the films; lastly, we reflect on how the filmmaker aligns herself with intersectional feminism by using empathy and solidarity towards her subjects.
  • Others:

    Author, as appears in the article.: Fonoll-Tassier, Anna; Baro, Nuria Arauna; Esteve, Laia Quilez;
    Department: Estudis de Comunicació
    URV's Author/s: Araüna Baro, Nuria / Fonoll Tassier, Anna / Quílez Esteve, Laia
    Keywords: War Teoría feminista Postcolonial theory Postcolonial studies Postcolonial Gender roles Gender Film studies Feminism Epistemologías feministas Documentary Documental Combatants Cinema contemporani Cinema Alba sotorra
    Abstract: This paper explores how documentary cinema in war contexts can challenge gender representations. To do so, we adopt a feminist and postcolonial approach to analyze the work of Catalan nonfiction filmmaker Alba Sotorra in Kurdistan, Afghanistan and Catalonia. In her films, Sotorra positions herself close to a series of subjects absorbed by wars and armed conflicts that (re)define their identities while acting beyond gender stereotypes. In particular, the paper analyzes the modes of production and representational strategies of two of Sotorra's latest feature films, Game Over and Commander Arian, documentaries with which the filmmaker aims at overcoming the visual exploitation of alterity. After an introduction to Sotorra, and a brief revision of the theory of postcolonial feminist cinema, our argument unfolds in four parts. Firstly, we reflect on cinematic representations of women and men at war; secondly, we introduce our methodology, based on in-depth interviews with the director to support our film analysis; thirdly, we contrast our hypotheses by means of close-readings of the films; lastly, we reflect on how the filmmaker aligns herself with intersectional feminism by using empathy and solidarity towards her subjects.
    Thematic Areas: Womens studies Visual arts and performing arts Sociologia i política Información y documentación General o multidisciplinar Gender studies Comunicação e informação Communication Ciencias sociales Ciências sociais aplicadas i Ciencias humanas Arts
    licence for use: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/
    Author's mail: anna.fonoll@urv.cat anna.fonoll@urv.cat nuria.arauna@urv.cat laia.quilez@urv.cat
    Author identifier: 0000-0001-9254-8230 0000-0001-9254-8230 0000-0002-1997-2833 0000-0001-6696-2569
    Record's date: 2024-08-03
    Papper version: info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion
    Link to the original source: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14680777.2022.2079701
    Licence document URL: https://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/
    Papper original source: Feminist Media Studies. 23 (6): 2646-2662
    APA: Fonoll-Tassier, Anna; Baro, Nuria Arauna; Esteve, Laia Quilez; (2023). Postcolonial feminism and non-fiction cinema: gendered subjects in Alba Sotorra's war documentaries. Feminist Media Studies, 23(6), 2646-2662. DOI: 10.1080/14680777.2022.2079701
    Article's DOI: 10.1080/14680777.2022.2079701
    Entity: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
    Journal publication year: 2023
    Publication Type: Journal Publications
  • Keywords:

    Communication,Gender Studies,Visual Arts and Performing Arts,Womens Studies
    War
    Teoría feminista
    Postcolonial theory
    Postcolonial studies
    Postcolonial
    Gender roles
    Gender
    Film studies
    Feminism
    Epistemologías feministas
    Documentary
    Documental
    Combatants
    Cinema contemporani
    Cinema
    Alba sotorra
    Womens studies
    Visual arts and performing arts
    Sociologia i política
    Información y documentación
    General o multidisciplinar
    Gender studies
    Comunicação e informação
    Communication
    Ciencias sociales
    Ciências sociais aplicadas i
    Ciencias humanas
    Arts
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