The Salemite
Vol. LXX No. 9
The Uncensored Voice Of The Salem Commmunity
March 9,1990
Women’s Images Change
by Patricia Earnhardt
"Emily (Wilson) comes up with
sofne great ideas and some goofy
ideas. This one was one of her
greatest," said Dr. Dudley
Shearburn, chairperson of the
Salem lectures committee, during
her introduction of Molly Haskell.
Ms. Haskell was invited by a
sub-committee of the lectures
committee to be this year's
scholar-in-residence. Ms. Wilson
and four students made up the
committee. After the committee
had decided on a film series they
asked Ms. Haskell to speak on the
iniages of women in film. Ms.
Haskell then chose Meryl Streep as
the focus of the series and her three
day visit at Salem. The series
included Kramer vs. Kramer,
Sophie's Choice, Silkwood,
Heartburn and was concluded with
Out of Africa while Ms. Haskell
Was in residence. Each film was
viewed by students and then
discussed with various faculty and
administration.
"Streep is never Streep: she is a
unique and unusual star," said Ms.
Haskell, explaining her reasons for
choosing Streep as the focus of the
film series. In her book, Ms.
Haskell describes Streep as a
"s}onbol of Artistic Integrity." She
is an actress who changes to be the
character at hand, not an actress
playing as that character.
Ms. Haskell gives proof to how
far a graduate of a woman's
institution can go. A 1961 graduate
from Sweet Briar College, Ms.
Haskell published the first edition
of From Reverence to Rape: The
Treatment of Women in the Movies
in 1974. The second edition was
published in 1987. She is a leading
hJew York film critic and has been a
reviewer for Vogue, Village Voice,
Viva, and New York magazines.
Her reviews are also printed in Ms,
The New York Times. Esquire.
Psychology Today, and other
nragazines.
The nature of movie watching
has changed. Movie makers made
Women to be perfect in order to meet
the needs of the ideal world.
Movies are not as make believe as
people often like to think.
According to Ms. Haskell, movies
usually reflect the values of each
generation. There is, in addition
though, the cover of film making,
which adds in more Hollywood
glamour.
Ms. Haskell classifies the most
recent generations into three
categories: the 60's which was "a
disaster," the nuclear generation
and the greedy Me generation.
With each generation there are
changes in attitudes and roles
women have, both in the "real
world" and in the movies.
The view of women in movies and
on television concerns Ms. Haskell
because women in society are
getting tired of fighting against the
movie stereo-types that show
women making it to the top and not
being able to cope or not making it
at all.
Ms. Haskell cited in her lecture
the TV series "L.A. Law" where
strong, forceful female characters
dress in men's clothes in the office.
Then they go home and change into
women's clothes in order to
compensate for being a success.
She also feel that the feminist
perspective has been the most
interesting part of movie history.
The movie and television industries
are slowly opening up to women and
the feminist movement. Female
stars like Meryl Streep, Glenn
Close, Debra Winger, Jane Fonda,
Cher and Sigourney Weaver are just
a few of the strong, independent
women featured in movies today.
These are the women fighting the
feminist battle at the box office.
Ms. Haskell noted, though, that
society still fears women in such
strong roles as Sigourney Weaver in
Gorillas in the Mist and Alien.
Most of the leading female roles
still end up falling back on the
co-starring male roles for support.
Unfortunately, this standard
demonstrates a societal weakness in
women and a need for the strength
and help of men. And, in the case of
billings the male star usually goes
first; for example the billing of Out
of Africa cited Robert Redford and
then Meryl Streep.
”"Ms. Haskell spoke several times
during her residency. The first was
her lecture on The Image of Women
in Film: The Unique Mervl Streep
where three area critics composed a
panel which interacted with Ms.
Scarecrow, Lion, and Unman clearly expressed "There's No Place Like Sale," to
the Senior Class of 1990 at the Sophomore / Senior Banquet, Thursday March 1.
photo contributed by Susan Combs
Board Initiates Review Policy
by Virginia Crable
On March 5, a memo was sent to the students, faculty and administration
at Salem College. The statement is a result of the full Board of Trustee's
meeting on February 15. The resolution of the Executive Board was adopted
by unanimous consent. The resolution at this time reads:
"The Board of Trustees will institute a policy of periodic
review of senior administrators at Salem Academy and College
and will continue to encourage the exchange of views among
Trustees, faculty, staff, students, and alumnae."
In talking with Mary Bryant Newell, the Chairman of the Board of
Trustees, she said that the resolution has not yet been put into process and
"hat the trusteeship committee will be studying the framework and the
-Tiechanics of the resolution before they meet again at the end of March.
"The resolution will be governed on what is already in operation. The
committee will either delete or expand upon what is already instituted,"
says Ms. Newell and also conunents that, "there are no concrete details at
this time."
Reverend Rick- Sides of Home Moravian Church and the Vice Chairman of
the Board of Trustees agrees that "the institution of the resolution will be
healthy and positive for the entire community. I am excited because an
institution such as Salem will be able to foster healthy communication and
feedback that affects everyone."
As of now, the Board has simply approved the motion, but has made no
progress as of now to administer the resolution.
Haskell and the audience. Her
second appearance was for high tea
and conversation with students,
administration, faculty and staff.
The finale of her visit was the
viewing and critiquing of Out of
Africa. Ms. Haskell also spoke to
the Women's Studies Faculty and in
Dr. Reiner's Psychology of Art
class.
For those who missed hearing Ms.
Haskell there are still many
chances to enjoy her work. From
Reverence to Rape can be checked
out in the Gramley library and her
lew book Love and C)ther Infectious
Diseases will be in stores in April.
If this is anything like her first
book, it is sure to be both intriguing
and educational.