Grabbing Back: An Analysis of Womanism and Cinematic Representation in These Hands

Document Type

Article

Authors

Taija Walker, University of Minnesota, MorrisFollow

Abstract

Flora M’mbugu-Schelling’s 1992 documentary These Hands is a 45-minute film depicting the crushing and processing of rocks by women working at a site in Tanzania. Unlike a typical documentary, there are no interviews conducted nor narrator to provide context for the viewer, so the film is heavily reliant on visuals and diegetic sound in conveying information and themes to the audience. Although These Hands, lacking in plot and narration, seems like a simple film with little substance, it is clear that there is an underlying agenda and an extremely powerful message, both being womanist in nature, that M’mbugu-Schelling reveals through the film’s focus and the cinematic techniques she has employed in its creation.

Recommended Citation

Walker, Taija (2018) "Grabbing Back: An Analysis of Womanism and Cinematic Representation in These Hands," Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal: Vol. 5: Iss. 1, Article 8.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.61366/2576-2176.1051
Available at: https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/horizons/vol5/iss1/8

Primo Type

Article