The outrageousness of a human being thinking only of herself.

AN EXPERIMENTAL FILM BY MEG WHITE

2022, 9:58 min

still from *The outrageousness of a human being thinking only of herself.*

Statement

Film history stands as evidence of the evolution of stereotypes of women, voyeurism, and sexualization in society. Some of the most influential films in history feature blatant misogyny. The intent of this short film is to examine the portrayal of women throughout film both historically and contemporarily, using my own experience and surroundings as visual aid. The film is told from the perspective of the female figure as she journeys through various portals through time and domestic locations, unravelling traumatic memories through object- and sound-based associations.

All text in the film, both spoken and subtitled, was sampled from 13 films* that deal with the female psyche or agendered existentialism. The films of reference vary from Ingmar Bergman’s 1966 iconic psychological drama Persona, to Karen Kusama’s 2009 controversial comedy/horror Jennifer’s Body. Together, all of the subtitles form a poetic narrative based on the process of a female-presenting person discovering their own identity and, simultaneously, how they are perceived by the outside world.