On the representation of women in social media, the tabloid press and consumer culture.
Simon Fujiwara’s “Joanne” depicts the many faces of the artist’s former high school art teacher Joanne Salley. Some years after Fujiwara’s departure from the Prestigious Harrow School for boys, Joanne found herself at the centre of a damaging tabloid scandal after students discovered and circulated topless photographs of her that had been taken privately. The media campaign that followed played on stereotypes of women to support the sensational headlines, tarnishing her reputation as a teacher and public persona. Five years on, Fujiwara and Joanne embarked on the production of a short film that explores issues Salley faced in the wake of the scandal. Using the slick and glossy visual language of sportswear- and fashion advertising
Fujiwara’s film leaves you slightly confused. Is this in fact a clever documentary, aiming to rehabilitate Joanne? Or rather a smokescreen, designed to obscure and dilute her image.
UK, 2016, 12’
In the framework of THE FUTURE IS FEMINIST.
