Your essay includes many welcome insights linking AI to misogyny and genocide, but let me highlight just one passage that leaped out: "I perform my fictive double, to protect myself from exposure to anyone’s flattened fairytale, like a Riefenstahl film, the mythic frame of mind that licenses violence, sanctions genocide." I used a film in one of my courses last semester even though it shamelessly characterizes Riefenstahl (played by Carice van Houten) as a brave, bold artiste who defies the Führer's racist edicts in the making of her Olympia films. While it is possible to argue that the third Reich is neither Richard Wagner's or Friedrich Nietzsche's fault, exonerating Riefenstahl for the license her work offered Aryan ideologues to commit genocide was quite the brazen Hollywood touch. Your description deftly acknowledges both the limitations of and the need for understanding her technically accomplished work as dangerous propaganda. Thank you for once again providing so much food for thought!
A very kind (and pleasant) thought! The elective I'm preparing for the fall is called "Mental Health & Illness in Film," so I've been watching various movies to see how they could work. Have you seen "The Substance," a 2024 "feminist body horror" movie starring Demi Moore? It's not subtle, but it nails various aspects of misogyny in its depiction of the "beauty industry," and it's filled with clever nods to older horror films, including The Shining, Carrie, and The Thing. Not sure I'll use it (might be a bit much for my students), but the most curious aspect is the number of wordless scenes Demi's character has, a woman navigating the world quite ably by herself even when she's hung on well past her supposed expiration date in an industry that's ready at the first sign of ratings loss to drop her like an old doll. (Sidebar: do you know May Swenson's wonderful poem "How to be Old"? "The Substance" is kind of its body horror flick opposite. :)
If you’re interested in more Swenson (an old personal favorite), let me highly recommend “A Nosty Fright” and everything in the collection called “Nature,” especially the deeply disturbing “Laocoon Dream,” the much less disturbing but still provocative “The Centaur,” and the differently provocative “View to the North.” 🙂
Yes. (!) A student in my writing course last semester who (by her own description) didn’t read or do much for fun but go shopping with friends was stumped completely when she had to come up with a poem for the poem presentation assignment — until I shared a copy of “How to Be Old” with her. She ended up doing a much better job than she thought she’d be able to because the poem spoke to her so. ☺️
"If a man starts to see me as more than a showgirl spectacle, but as fallible in my human vulnerability, capable of agency, I am in danger. Seeing me, he must face all he has abandoned in himself."
Holy fuck, that last paragraph! I love your essay but what a way to sent it home.
edit.. that didn't come out right - AND what a way to sent it home!!
Your essay includes many welcome insights linking AI to misogyny and genocide, but let me highlight just one passage that leaped out: "I perform my fictive double, to protect myself from exposure to anyone’s flattened fairytale, like a Riefenstahl film, the mythic frame of mind that licenses violence, sanctions genocide." I used a film in one of my courses last semester even though it shamelessly characterizes Riefenstahl (played by Carice van Houten) as a brave, bold artiste who defies the Führer's racist edicts in the making of her Olympia films. While it is possible to argue that the third Reich is neither Richard Wagner's or Friedrich Nietzsche's fault, exonerating Riefenstahl for the license her work offered Aryan ideologues to commit genocide was quite the brazen Hollywood touch. Your description deftly acknowledges both the limitations of and the need for understanding her technically accomplished work as dangerous propaganda. Thank you for once again providing so much food for thought!
Ooh, thank you for this--I wish I could take your class!
A very kind (and pleasant) thought! The elective I'm preparing for the fall is called "Mental Health & Illness in Film," so I've been watching various movies to see how they could work. Have you seen "The Substance," a 2024 "feminist body horror" movie starring Demi Moore? It's not subtle, but it nails various aspects of misogyny in its depiction of the "beauty industry," and it's filled with clever nods to older horror films, including The Shining, Carrie, and The Thing. Not sure I'll use it (might be a bit much for my students), but the most curious aspect is the number of wordless scenes Demi's character has, a woman navigating the world quite ably by herself even when she's hung on well past her supposed expiration date in an industry that's ready at the first sign of ratings loss to drop her like an old doll. (Sidebar: do you know May Swenson's wonderful poem "How to be Old"? "The Substance" is kind of its body horror flick opposite. :)
Ooh but I need to read that poem!
Tried sending you a screenshot of the poem twice now. Did it get through?
Weird… It did not! Maybe direct message would work?
Haven’t tried DMs here before. Did it get through?
Oh wow, I love it!! Thank you so much for sharing. Chills. The last two lines!
If you’re interested in more Swenson (an old personal favorite), let me highly recommend “A Nosty Fright” and everything in the collection called “Nature,” especially the deeply disturbing “Laocoon Dream,” the much less disturbing but still provocative “The Centaur,” and the differently provocative “View to the North.” 🙂
Yes. (!) A student in my writing course last semester who (by her own description) didn’t read or do much for fun but go shopping with friends was stumped completely when she had to come up with a poem for the poem presentation assignment — until I shared a copy of “How to Be Old” with her. She ended up doing a much better job than she thought she’d be able to because the poem spoke to her so. ☺️
Here you go. 🙂
So funny you mention it, my reading of the Substance is part of what got cut! Saving for a future post, probably my next 👻
Interesting photo! https://open.substack.com/pub/surfequity/p/ai-bots-are-replacing-womenand-so?r=4yoit3&utm_medium=ios
Ooh, thank you for sharing!!! Can’t wait to read your essay 🧡
"If a man starts to see me as more than a showgirl spectacle, but as fallible in my human vulnerability, capable of agency, I am in danger. Seeing me, he must face all he has abandoned in himself."
I shall call thee Alison the Knife.
You’re really on a roll with these incredible nicknames 🩷
Are we not writers? All hail turn of phrase!
Keep kicking ass, lady.
Bravura.