Sexual Warfare in the Silent Cinema: Comedies and Melodramas of Woman Suffragism

Sloan, Kay

doi:10.2307/2712526

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Silent cinema served as a medium for commentary on feminist social issues during this time. First-wave feminism (1848-1920) concentrated on reimagining social dynamics for greater equality, with a particular emphasis on pursuing women's suffrage rights (Sloan 1981). The women's suffrage movement, which granted women the right to vote, became associated with the International Woman Suffrage Alliance in 1904 (Malinowska 2020).…”

Section: Women Filmmakers and Silent Film Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other anti-suffrage silent films featured the antics of man-hating suffragists, bumbling husbands, and confused children. From 1912 to 1914, the National American Woman Suffrage Association and Women's Social and Political Union produced several melodramas to combat the negative portrayal of suffragettes (Sloan 1981). Hence, suffragists and anti-suffragists used silent films to further their political purposes.…”

Section: Women Filmmakers and Silent Film Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Social Changes in America: The Silent Cinema Frontier and Women Pioneers

Peng

2023

Humanities

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Silent cinema acted as a bridge between early motion pictures and today’s film industry, playing a transformative role in shaping feminist film history and American society. This article explores pioneering American women in the silent film industry who ventured into technology, film culture, marginalized communities, and social movements. Despite the prevalence of racist and sexist propaganda, American silent films were a frontier for innovation, filmmaking, and exploring the New Women concept. This study examines 23 American silent films that have often been overlooked and rarely studied, whereby film analysis generally aligns with established feminist silent film theories. By shedding light on a previously overlooked film directed by May Tully, this study challenges the widespread belief that there existed “no women directors in 1925”. The examination of databases reaffirms American women directors’ contributions to silent films, especially during the early years of the silent film era. The results modify the previous scholarly notion that “influential women directors’ involvement was over by 1925”. Following an initial surge in their active leadership during the early years, influential women directors’ participation was over after 1922, rather than 1925.

show abstract

Section: Women Filmmakers and Silent Film Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Women Filmmakers and Silent Film Historymentioning

confidence: 99%