Film series aiming to foster discussion of sexual violence

The Women's and Gender Studies Program, the Department of Sociology and Hillel are co-sponsoring a four-part film series to facilitate discussion of sexual violence. All films will be shown in Pearlman Lounge.

The series begins Tuesday, April 5, at 6:30 p.m. with the screening of "Redlight." UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Lucy Liu produced and narrated the feature documentary about child sexploitation. Filmed over a four year period, "Redlight" focuses on the personal stories of the victims and two advocates for change: grass-roots activist Somaly Mam and politician Mu Sochua. The two guest lecturers are Katherine Chon, co-founder of the Polaris Project Combating Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery and Professor Bernadette J. Brooten (NEJS) speaking about the Feminist Sexual Ethics Project.

On Wednesday, April 6, at 6:30 p.m. with the screening of two episodes from the series "Xena: The Warrior Princess."

In "The Deliverer" and "Gabrielle's Hope," Gabrielle is tricked into losing her blood innocence, resulting in her impregnation with the child of an evil god. Xena must decide whether to kill the child or protect it. Jacob Cytryn, a Ph.D student in the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies department, will facilitate a discussion of the episodes from the perspective of Jewish ethics.

On April 12 at 6:30 p.m., the series will be showing "Metamorphosis," an Israeli documentary. The film features four women revealing their personal stories of rape and incest, coupled with unique video art and references to Ovid's "Metamorphosis." This film won an award from the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. After the screening, Professor Cheryl Walker of the Classical Studies department will facilitate discussion.

On April 13 at 6:30 p.m., the film series will be screening Campfire, an Israeli feature film. In 1981, Rachel Gerlick, recently widowed, decides to move to a West Bank settlement with her two teenage daughters. After Rachel's youngest daughter is sexually assaulted at a campfire, the women struggle to help one another and find acceptance within the community. Following the screening, Professor Ellen Wright (PSYC) and graduate student Jane Harries will discuss adolescent coping mechanisms and perpetration of sexual violence.

Any questions, comments, or for more information regarding the events, please email Emily Nhaissi.

Categories: Humanities and Social Sciences, Student Life

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