This March, I presented my research at the Society for Cinema and Media Studies conference in Seattle, WA. I was part of a panel called “Saving Whiteness,” which discussed various manifestations of white supremacist ideology, practices, and aesthetics in the media.
My paper discussed the German propaganda film, Jud Suß (1940); specifically, I analyzed actress Kristina Söderbaum’s role as Dorothea in the film, as well as her star persona, to discuss how the female body was used as a cultural symbol of National Socialism. I argued the film exploits both the public “star” of Söderbaum as an abstract symbol of the Nazi ‘feminine’ ideal to enhance and further the film’s message of anti-semitism. Söderbaum’s body becomes a symbol of the German community (volksgemeinschaft). Thus, the film uses the rape of Dorothea (Söderbaum) to represent both the literal threat (of racial impurity and the Jews) but also as a figurative threat (the vulnerability of the women, and thus, the Volk to corruption); in doing so, the rape of Söderbaum in the film effectively mobilized feelings of nationalism and personal patriotism by linking the feminine body with the political body.
On Sunday, I participated in a closed seminar called “Feminist Assemblages.” Each of the participants shared an opinion piece, and the seminar was a space to discuss the many dynamic and engaging ideas presented in the papers. This led to a broad theoretical discussion where we were able to point to connections across disciplines, areas of theory, and nationalities to achieve a fuller (though by no means comprehensive) understanding of the areas which media studies and feminism work in tandem.
As a young scholar with much to learn and not even a graduate degree to my name, the experience of attending such a large and dynamic conference was invaluable to my growth and budding confidence as I continue to pursue my research. I look forward (hopefully) to next year!