Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power

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Gwyn V This is easily one of, if not the most, important documentary about filmmaking. This film truly deprogrammed my brain. It opened my eyes to how films enter our psyche and perpetuate ideas about the world. Watching this should be a prerequisite for all people entering the industry. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/14/24 Full Review Steph G I think this documentary (which is more like a recording of TED-like talk with interviews interspersed) is one of the most important documentaries of our time for women and their push for equality. Why? Because the way women are represented in the media and film has to change. And Menkes makes a convincing argument of how that current, sexist lens creates real-world chaos for women. You can read more at my blog here: https://stephaniewest.org/2023/03/06/one-of-the-most-important-documentaries-of-our-time-if-the-camera-is-predatory-then-the-culture-is-predatory-as-well/ Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/13/23 Full Review Brian Scott M Finally got to see "Brainwashed". On the big screen. With a fantastic Q&A that included the filmmakers. (Live in LA) See it - the documentary is a critical and unflinching mirror to cinema's sexist past, and some keys to a better future on the page, on set, and on film. It's not a man-bashing, woke fest. It insightfully and clearly illustrates the objectification culture present in film today, as well as the historic and current employment discrimination against women. #consciousnessistransformative Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review gina k warning: this film may take you on a rollercoaster of anger-grief-hope. BRAINWASHED: SEX-CAMERA-POWER is striking in its simple, straightforward demonstration of power dynamics at play in the visual language of cinema, the impact of those dynamics on culture, and solutions for moving forward in a new way. filmmaker nina menkes treats the subject in a calm and measured manner, walking the audience through the topic like they're attending a graduate film studies class. the audience is given a multitude of examples which demonstrate a visual pattern that is - whether intentionally or unintentionally - reinforced throughout a century of filmmaking, a pattern that most often objectifies women and minorities. the film links this pattern to the wider, societal implications, its role in contributing to the everyday objectification of women and minorities in workplaces and interpersonal interactions, and the inequitable economics of filmmaking. then, rather than condemning the visual pattern, or shaming those who use it, the film plainly asks, "is this style of visual language effectively communicating the narrative?" and/or "is there another way to accomplish the goal that may be even more effective?" here, examples of alternatives are provided. by bringing the pattern into conscious awareness without any shame or retribution, the film allows the audience an opportunity to choose to heal the collective trauma wrought by the normalization of on-screen dehumanization, and to be free of the unconscious visual language so that it can be transformed into an entirely new system. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Leyi D I went for a movie, not for a lecture, and certainly not for the director's narcissist plug-ins of her own films. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 12/08/23 Full Review Lynne M An eye-opening look at the subtle techniques of cinema language perpetuate ideas about men and women that seep into everyone's subconscious in harmful ways. A must-see for anyone making creative content. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power

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