Viewing Response 14: Strange days (1995)
In this week’s text, “ White Privilege and Looking Relations: Race and Gender in Feminist Film Theory” by Jane Gaines, discusses multiple feminist theories.The text also describes how the oppression of women of color is not fully grasped in some theories. For example, “In Marxist feminist analysis, the factors of race and sexual preference have remained loose ends; as categories of oppression they fit somewhat awkwardly into a model based on class relations in capitalist society” (page 294). In the Marxist theory it identifies racial conflict as class struggle, but this does not explain how exactly gender intersects with race. This theory fails to include females of color, such as Lornette “Mace” Mason from the film Strange Days (1995). This theory does not include instances such as the last scene where Mace was on the ground getting beaten to death by police officers weilding batons. Lornette Mason was awkwardly fit into this film where she worked as a bodyguard and drove a bullet-resistant car, while still having feelings for Lenny Nero. This awkward fit worked wonders for the film, however, by promoting a more accurate “gaze” of strong women of color.
I agree that Mace provides representation for women of color that has rarely been seen by the time of 1995 when the filmed premiered. I personally felt the choice to have Mace in love with Lenny was gratuitous by the end; however, Angela Bassett still remains a strong, black, female character even in the relationship with another man.
Even though recently it is more common to have a more inclusive representation of different women in film, as the spectator and knowing the time period of the movie, you can understand how have Mace played by a strong black female was pivotal in film. I think that helps the viewer to appreciate the film more. At the time, this casting may have been seen as “awkward” but hopefully we’re progressing into normalizing it.
