Introduction
Patricia White is a famous author of Women’s Cinema and feminist pieces of literature. She is popularly known for analyzing and discussing films and film experiences about feminism and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community (LGBTQ). Some of the author’s famous works include A Feminist Reader in Early Cinema, Uninvited: Classical Hollywood Cinema and Lesbian Representability, and Sketchy Lesbians: Carol as History and Fantasy. This essay summarizes her article Sketchy Lesbians: Carol as History and Fantasy to show how the author blended history and the present to create a fantasy narrative.
Article Analysis
Whites’ article is a literary analysis of the film Carol by Todd Haynes. The film was produced and aired in 2015, narrating a historical romance among lesbians. The film is based in 1952, before the postwar, when sexuality issues such as homosexuality and bisexuality were considered taboo by society. According to White, the film entails historical and fantasy aspects as it is based on a cultural and social context of a specific period, and it draws on a contemporary understanding of lesbianism (White 2).
The author argues that the 1950s marked a strict social and cultural conservatism period. Thus, lesbianism and other forms of homosexuality were viewed as improper, which could lead to legal persecution. However, the film portrays the existence of lesbians in the period, which seems like a historical fantasy used to reflect and critique lesbianism at the time. White states that the film shows the limitations and challenges in the lesbian community and highlights their resistance and urgency to be free and accepted in society.
The author suggests that the film represents the desire between women and the consequences after that. By making the film based on a historical context corresponding to contemporary issues of sexuality, the filmmaker enlightens the audience about factors that were superseded in history. At the same time, the film depicts historical losses of gender and sexuality issues that should be paid attention to in the modern era.
The author praises Haynes for utilizing the beat film crew and acknowledges their detailed and excellent work in creating the film beautifully. For instance, White recognizes the cinematography of Ed Lachman for good lighting, Judy Baker’s production design, and Sandy Powell’s costume designs. The author suggests that the film’s producers and directors use melodrama to tell a romantic story, which attracts the emotional aspect of the audience.
The visualization style and musical elements effectively create an emotional impact of the extraordinary love affair, depicting the lover’s desire, vulnerabilities, and fears surrounding their relationship. White states that Haynes has a remarkable selection of soundtracks in the film, such as Easy Living by Billie Holliday and One Mint Julep, which depict a disposition to pleasure (White 8). The camera movement effectively evokes anxiety and diffuses eroticism throughout the film, making the viewer hooked on what transpires next.
According to White, the film effectively uses the background and production designs, such as furniture, to portray the challenges of lesbianism in the period. For instance, Therese exclaims at the space, furniture, and location of their meeting at Drake Hotel, showing the solitude of loving the same sex and marriage equality (White 11). Thus, the cinematography, production design, and costumes play a significant role in depicting the historical fantasy regarding lesbianism.
Conclusion
Finally, White argues that the film realizes the details of the setting more than the story. Despite great visualization and soundtracks, which set the mood and the film’s setting, the dialogues between characters are sparse. Consequently, the main character’s journey seems directionless as they move from one hotel and diner to another without a meaningful direction. Similarly, the story is vague and lasts briefly during the Christmas holidays. Nonetheless, the message is effectively portrayed in the film, which depicts the historical context of the lesbian community and highlights the desires and urgency of identity among lesbians.
Work Cited
White, Patricia. “Sketchy Lesbians: Carol as History and Fantasy.” Film Quarterly, vol. 69, no. 2, 2015, pp. 8–18. Web.