Introduction
Auteur theory in cinematography refers to a framework where directors are seen as the driving forces in filmmaking who share their perspectives of creativity and add a personal touch to the motion picture. The criteria that make a director an auteur encompass unique filmmaking styles, exploration of unconventional topics, and focus on a specific audience. For example, among such directors is Julie Dash, who focuses on African American culture and oppression.
The director is the sole owner of The Rosa Parks Story and Daughters of the Dust success and helps delve deeper into the mentioned themes. The films of Julie Dash serve as powerful vehicles for social justice and cultural exploration, which was achieved by focusing on unique filmmaking, recurrent themes, and marginalized narratives.
Technical Competence, Distinguishable Personality, and Interior Meaning
First, when discussing technical competence, focusing on how both films use similar styles to convey the messages is crucial. For example, in Daughters of the Dust, the director uses a distinct visual style and attention to detail. Dash applies slow-tracking shorts, dreamlike sequences, and vibrant colors to demonstrate the experiences of the Gullah culture. Among the instances is the opening scene, where a woman is seen slowly sailing in a boat, contrasting her white dress with the natural surroundings of chocolate-colored water (Dash, 1991).
In another film, The Rosa Parks Story, which communicates the story of the activist, Dash also uses her unique style. For instance, when demonstrating the intense scene of Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus, the director uses close-ups and tight framing to allow the audience to grasp the actress’s emotions (Dash, 2002). Such approaches of Dash help intensify the emotions on the screen.
As for distinguishable personality, Julie Dash shows her unique style through the exploration of the cultural heritage and experiences of African Americans in the 19th and 20th centuries. For instance, as seen in The Rosa Parks Story, Dash accentuates the stoic nature of the African American community in the face of oppression. Rosa Parks makes sacrifices for justice and a better future for other generations.
Meanwhile, Daughters of the Dust stresses the importance of traditions and cultural values, as seen in the Gullah community. The descendants of African communities, the members of the Gullah community, believe in spirits and preserve the cuisine of their forefathers. Each film illustrates its unique narrative and purpose by having such a personality.
Lastly, the interior meaning of both motion pictures lies in accentuating the struggles of African American communities of different centuries. In The Rosa Parks Story, the interior meaning is in the inner strength of marginalized communities and the power to ignite social change. Using the scene with the bus seat, Rosa Parks later started the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which was a pivotal moment for the civil rights movement (Dash, 2002).
Meanwhile, Daughters of the Dust explores cultural preservation and the tension between the new and old orders. In one scene, Yellow Mary, who has experience as a photographer on the mainland, shares her works with others (Dash, 1991). This moment symbolizes the clash between modernity and the ancestors’ values sustained for centuries.
Filmmaking Techniques, Consistent Themes, and Storytelling
When discussing filmmaking techniques, one can see the talent of Julie Dash in her ability to convey messages artistically. For example, Dash focuses on poetic and symbolic imagery in Daughters of the Dust. At the film’s beginning, the director demonstrates a powerful short of women walking on the beach wearing white dresses (Dash, 1991). Such a scene helps the audience see the purity and spirituality of heroines and how they are connected to the natural world.
Moreover, in The Rosa Parks Story, the filmmaking technique employed by Dash lies in the director’s ability to convey period authenticity. In one scene, segregation in the 1950s and 1960s can be seen as the audience observes the lessons for class with only black girls (Dash, 2002). In another scene, discrimination and oppression are seen in the newspaper read by a man where the sentencing of a black person is highlighted on the front page (Dash, 2002). Therefore, her poetic narrative structure makes Julie Dash different from her peers.
Consistent themes in motion pictures are another element that makes them authentic. For instance, in Daughters of the Dust, themes of cultural identity and preservation are recurrent throughout the plot. Nana Peazant, the matriarch of the Peazant family who is at the center of the storyline, is seen as the guardian of the Gullah community who strives to preserve the culture’s values for future generations (Dash, 1991). Therefore, memory, ancestry, and identity are seen in characters and their behaviors. The Rosa Parks Story’s themes of long-term impact, activism, and sacrifice are recurrent. Throughout the film, one can see the bits of Park’s prosecution that resulted from her refusal to give up her seat.
Lastly, the storylines of both motion pictures are non-linear, contributing to the creative style of Julie Dash. For example, in Daughters of the Dust, the director focuses on the multigenerational lens, focusing on the perspectives of each heroine. From the matriarch of the Peazant family, Dash shifts her focus to younger heroines and their adventures.
Then, in The Rosa Parks Story, the story of the activist is seen from different periods. In the beginning, the audience sees bits from Rosa Parks’s prosecution without the director explaining the scene (Dash, 2002). The following scene demonstrates Parks’ childhood years and how her opinions were shaped by inequalities and oppression (Dash, 2002). With such a storyline style, Dash demonstrates unique character development.
Ethos on Complex Social and Cultural Issues
The final element worth consideration is ethos on complex social and cultural issues. As seen above, Julie Dash’s works illuminate social injustice and a sense of identity. In both motion pictures, the director gives voice to underrepresented stories and challenges the dominance of the white population and the values imposed on other cultures. In The Rosa Parks Story, the director shows complex issues of justice and oppression of African American communities, emphasizing the detrimental impact of white supremacists’ power violation.
In another film, Daughters of the Dust, Dash highlights the assimilation experienced in the local community and how it leads to the deterioration of ancestral traditions. Julie Dash emphasizes the need to honor and celebrate crucial historical moments and cultures by stressing the themes of individual and collective identities and African American heritage.
Conclusion
Hence, with a concentration on distinctive filmmaking, recurring themes, and disadvantaged narratives, Julie Dash’s films act as potent platforms for social justice and cultural inquiry. Both movies employ a distinctive visual aesthetic and meticulous attention to detail, and Julie Dash demonstrates her approach by delving into African Americans’ experiences and cultural history. Accentuating the challenges of African American communities is central to the inner message of both films.
Julie Dash’s poetic narrative style sets her apart from her contemporaries. Non-linear narratives and recurring motifs influence the creative approach. Julie Dash emphasizes respecting and celebrating significant historical events and cultures by focusing on the themes of individual and community identities and African American history. Overall, the auteur theory is a valuable tool that helps see the art in a motion picture and a unique narration and messages.
References
Dash, J. (Director). (2002). The Rosa Parks story [Film].
Dash, J. (Director). (1991). Daughters of the dust [Film]. Kino Lorber.