Strange Days (1995)
Jane Gainesâs essay âWhite Privilege and Looking Relations: Race and Gender in Feminist Film Theoryâ examined the erasure of black women in cinema by white male filmmakers. To fully understand this point, Gaines relies on the history of this topic. Specifically, she states, âIf, as feminists have argued, womenâs sexuality evokes an unconscious terror in men, then black womenâs sexuality represents a special threat to white patriarchy; the possibility of its eruption stands for the aspirations of the black race as a wholeâ (p. 303). In the film, Strange Days (1995),there is a strong representation of black female empowerment shown in the character of Mace. Initially playing the role of a bodyguard, Mace transforms into a powerful action hero who is constantly saving Lenny from dire situations. In one particular scene, Mace is shown cocking a gun in her holster between her thighs, held under her little black dress. The purpose of this shot is to give Mace a masculine role while still keeping her femininity intact. Tying back to Gainesâs argument, the role of a black female in this film is not to be overlooked, but rather, shown as an independent, kick-ass character. Between the love that Mace has for Lenny and her desire to keep him safe, she is represented in all different lights. Â
The quote you chose from Gaines is perfect. The black female representation in film is a threat to not only white patriarchy, as Gaines says, but also a threat to the ânormsâ of film. Mace breaks the norm that a black woman doesnât play a powerful lead that cleans up after the white male lead. The scene you chose is interesting to me because even though she is in a tiny black dress and they show her further lift the dress to place the gun in the holster, she is the only main female that is not explicitly sexualized. The fact that she is a woman is definitely highlighted, but no where near as extreme as females like Faith and Iris.
