Summer Project
For my summer project I was asked to read a journal from e-flux and create a piece in response to what I read. Over the summer I had developed an interest in Witchcraft and how its effect on women and queer people is still relevant today. The journal I chose was Natasha Ginwala’s Untaming Restraint and the Deferred Apology (https://editor.e-flux-systems.com/files/220044_e-flux-journal-untaming-restraint-and-the-deferred-apology.pdf) which explored the use of the scold’s bridle in the 16th Century and other ways in the modern day that women have been forced into silence. I wanted to create a short film surrounding the visuals of the silencing of women as well as an essay to accompany it, which discusses the social and historical context.
Click HERE to read the essay!
Other influences for my short film include the ending of the 2022 film Pearl, directed by Ti West, where the main character uncomfortably smiles while staring directly at the audience. Although exaggerated and uncomfortable, visually it perfectly captures how women often feel when they are forced to be silent and do as they are told.
The title Hold Your Tongue is taken from the expression, which was originated from the use of the scold’s bridle, which encourages women to put on a brave face and swallow their true feelings. The audio is Leo Reisman’s Alone Together (1932), I liked how earie the piece sounded and it also reminded me of 1920s films, which I have recently started to enjoy. I hadn’t really worked with film before but found it a really interesting way of expressing my artistic ideas. As the semester progresses I hope to develop my film making skills and experiment with different possibilities in terms of filming and editing.
Stills from Hold Your Tongue (September 2024)