Semiotics of the Kitchen
Made the same year as Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman…, American conceptual artist Martha Rosler (b. 1943) confronts her viewer with a stone-faced, aproned woman in her kitchen. As this unhappy housewife displays and handles her cooking tools alphabetically, their meanings are recontextualized as objects not of domestic labor, but as weapons of female rage.
Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
Recently named the greatest film of all time by the decennial Sight and Sound poll, Belgian filmmaker Chantal Akerman’s (1950–2015) uncompromising second feature film, made when she was only 25, masterfully illustrates the quiet rage beget by female oppression through the stoic face of actress Delphine Seyrig. Lensed by Babette Mangolte, one of the most prolific women cinematographers of her era, this domestic epic unfolds over three seemingly ordinary days in the life of a housewife, mother, and part-time sex worker in Brussels. The tension created through repetition and the smallest of gestures makes this an unequivocal masterpiece and a timeless example of feminist filmmaking.
Semiotics of the Kitchen
DIRECTED BY: Martha Rosler. 1975. 6 min. USA. B&W. Digital.
Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
DIRECTED/WRITTEN BY: Chantal Akerman. WITH: Delphine Seyrig, Jan Decorte. 1975. 201 min. Belgium/France. Color. French. 35mm.
Upcoming Events
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This solo show by Komla Letsu Phillip is a collective of acrylic canvases painted by the artist in his studio in Ho, Ghana. In his first solo presentation, Komla promotes genuine acceptance of oneself. In a world where we are constantly stimulated, Komla uses his work to express what silence makes him feel. The works depict figures in lively settings with distinctive blue eyes that subliminally signify mental peace.
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Experience flavor and treats from across the African Diaspora in a night market curated by Black Women Vedors. Local Black women-owned food businesses bring you cuisine from Jamaica, Ethiopia, and Belize, to name a few. You can also enjoy savory soul food from the heart of Louisiana or try Philly-inspired vegan street food creations. For the encore, quench your thirst with hand-crafted juices and satisfy a sweet tooth with mouth-watering desserts and ice cream.
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Don’t know what to do for dinner on a busy Wednesday evening? All this and more at the Leimert Park Night Market Powered by Black Women Vendors. Pull up to enjoy great food & music.
Free RSVP at website
Simran Bhalla is the curator of multiple film series on Indian, Iranian, and Arab cinema. In 2020, film programmers discovered a print of Badnam Basti (1971) in a German archive — the movie is thought to be the first to openly portray a gay relationship in Indian cinema. However, it was considered lost or destroyed for several decades. In this lecture, Bhalla emphasizes the value of film preservation and archives in unearthing and contextualizing this hidden LGBT history. Bhalla shares…
$40
Save the date! Online registration for Spring classes begins March 13 at 8am Registration will be online via Eventbrite: Class fees will be collected in person at our center the week following registration. See the flyer for details. See you soon!
