A hidden history

[Shana A]

A hidden history

Posted on 09 April 2012
By Steven Franz

http://www.uwmpost.com/2012/04/09/a-hidden-history/

The lesson on display at Jenni Olson's "We Who Are Sexy: The Whirlwind History of Transgender Images in Cinema" was quite simple: the depiction of transgendered individuals is incredibly complex. That is to say that Olson, a film historian, director ("In my other life, I'm an experimental documentary filmmaker," she said, grinning), blogger and outspoken LGBT activist, was making the point that the ways in which transgendered, transsexual or gender-queer characters have been portrayed in the cinema since its silent dawn are as complicated, subtle and ever-changing as the varieties of very real transgendered identities that inspired or terrified those who felt the need to put their eye to the camera lens.

The presentation, an hour-plus multimedia essay and clipshow curated by Olson and her partner Susan Stryker (who, despite being quoted plentifully by Olson with regard to many of the films up for discussion, could not attend) that was featured as one of the LGBT Film & Video Festival's ongoing monthly screenings, was more a history lesson than anything else. Composed of trailers, selected film clips, one DVD special-feature documentary clip and even Hilary Swank's Best Actress Oscar acceptance speech (for her performance in Boys Don't Cry), "We Who Are Sexy," which was also the title of one of the films on display, was a multimedia essay narrated as much by the sheer presence of many of the clips as much as it was by Olson's engaging, intermittent narration and commentary.

[Jamie D]

I know of one bit of film history that, perhaps, deserves to remain hidden.

That is Ed Wood's 1953 cult classic Glen or Glenda (I Changed My Sex!)

I happen to own the Ed Wood collector's dvd set, which includes Plan Nine From Outer Space and Bride of the Atom.

But you can watch Glen or Glenda on YouTube ... if you dare.

[Shana A]

I know of one bit of film history that, perhaps, deserves to remain hidden.

That is Ed Wood's 1953 cult classic Glen or Glenda (I Changed My Sex!)

I watched it a few years ago, and even admit to liking it. 

Z

[Jamie D]

I watched it a few years ago, and even admit to liking it. 

Z

Ed Wood was a character.  I believe Johnny Depp played the Role of Wood in the film about his life.  As I recall, Martin Landau won the supporting Oscar as Bela Lugosi.

Anyway, Glen or Glenda was intended to be a film about the life of Christine Jorgensen, but she would have nothing to do with it.  So Wood, a crossdresser in real life, stepped into the role.

The rest is history.

[Shana A]

Anyway, Glen or Glenda was intended to be a film about the life of Christine Jorgensen, but she would have nothing to do with it.  So Wood, a crossdresser in real life, stepped into the role.

The rest is history.

I didn't know Glen or Glenda was based on Christine Jorgensen, but it makes sense.

Johnny Depp was great as Ed Wood.

Z

[Jamie D]

The original concept was to do a Jorgensen biopic (Christine Jorgensen had made headlines in 1952 for her "sex change" operation).  Ed Wood took over the direction of the film and played the lead role - the film become a docudrama about crossdressing.