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UC San Diego UC San Diego Electronic Theses and Dissertations Title Ambiguous bodies in motion : representations of female identity in contemporary screendance Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/67t536cq Author Sprague, Terry Publication Date 2010 Peer reviewed|Thesis/dissertation eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE Ambiguous Bodies in Motion: Representations of Female Identity in Contemporary Screendance A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Drama and Theatre by Terry Sprague Committee in charge: University of California, San Diego Professor Janet Smarr, Chair Professor Anthony Davis Professor Allyson Green Professor Theodore Shank University of California, Irvine Professor Frank Wilderson, III 2010 Copyright Terry Sprague, 2010 All rights reserved. The Dissertation of Terry Sprague is approved, and it is acceptable in quality and form for publication on microfilm and electronically: Chair University of California, San Diego University of California, Irvine 2010 iii DEDICATION To Riley and Lara, my joy, my inspirations. To Errol, Momisse, Carmen, Peter, Stef, Kylie, Tripp, Sophia, Kate and Sam whose love filled me up when I was running dry. To my dancer sisters Yvonne, Kate, Jean, Terry and Terri who have been by my side and have kept me laughing at times when I had been way too serious. To my circle sisters without whom I may not have made it this far. Thank you all for being patient and supportive while I was missing your concerts, circles and gatherings because I was holed up at the Pannikin writing one more chapter. To Nancy Rapp, whose morning calls lifted me just when and in the way I needed. To Nancy McCaleb, who told me to keep going when I was considering not. To Sean, Carol, the Pannikin crew and fellow “regulars” who made me feel welcome and kept the refills coming while I almost became a permanent fixture. * To dear Scott who has been by my side through this long journey and supportive in so many ways. * In loving memory of my father, Hall Tripp Sprague (1930-2010) iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Signature Page....................................................................................................................iii Dedication...........................................................................................................................iv Table of Contents.................................................................................................................v List of Images……………………………………………………….……………………vi Acknowledgements..........................................................................................................viii Vita.....................................................................................................................................ix Abstract of the Dissertation..............................................................................................xiii Chapter 1 - Introduction……………………………………………………………….…..1 Chapter 2 - Imaging the Female Body: A Comparative Analysis of Corporeal Images in Contemporary Screendance and Advertising ………....................................................................................... 42 Chapter 3 - The Viewer’s Body: Shaping the Viewer in Screendance and Mainstream Media……………..……82 Chapter 4 - Nude, Naked and Sexually Expressive Bodies in Motion: Comparing Representations of Female Identity in Selected Screendances with those in Advertising and Commercial Hollywood Film.....................................125 Chapter 5 - The Veiled Body: Performing Female Identity and the Veil with Ambiguity in Screendances by G. Ndiritu, M. Abbasi and I. Rocamora……………………..............................187 Chapter 6 - Conclusion……………………………………………………………...…237 Bibliography....................................................................................................................242 v LIST OF IMAGES Image 1: Dolorosa (2000) by Bill Viola…………………………………………………88 Image 2: Grace Ndiritu in Desert Storm (2004)…………………………………………93 Image 3: David in Cost of Living (2004)………………………………………………..97 Image 4: Calvin Klein advertisement for “Be” perfume (1997)……………………….110 Image 5: Calvin Klein jeans advertisement image (2007)……………………………..139 Image 6: Etam Lingerie advertisement image. Spring-summer 2010………………….141 Image 7: Male model in stereotypically female reclining position…………………….142 Image 8: Yves Saint Laurent Billboard advertisement (2000)…………………...……145 Image 9: Finest Motor Sports advertising image………………………………………146 Image 10: Vogue Magazine advertisement image (2010)……………………………...147 Image 11: Urban Outfitters advertisement image (2010)………………………………148 Image 12: Grace Ndiritu’s Still Life: Lying Down Textiles (2006)…………………….164 Image 13: Grace Ndiritu’s Still Life: White Textiles (2006)…………………………...167 Image 14: Amy Greenfield performing in Tides (#1). (1982)…………………...…..…171 Image 15: Amy Greenfield performing in Tides (#2). (1982)…………………...…….172 Image 16: Close up shot in Aprop (2007) by Aitor Echeverria……………………......174 Image 17: Side lighting in Aprop (2007) by Aitor Echeverria…………………………175 Image 18: Two dancers performing in Aprop (2007) by Aitor Echeverria…………….177 Image 19: Dancers performing in Mass Ornament (2009) by Natalie Bookchin……...179 Image 20: Dancers performing in Busby Berkeley’s Footlight Parade (1933)….........181 Image 21: National Geographic cover image of Sharbat Gula (June 1985)………......189 vi Image 22: Grace Ndiritu in TIME (2004)……………………………………...………204 Image 23: Time Magazine “The Struggle Within Islam” (September 13, 2004)……...205 Image 24: Time Magazine “Life in Hell: A Bagdad Diary” cover (August 6, 2006)....206 Image 25: Time Magazine “Lifting the Veil” cover (December 3, 2001)………….…..206 Image 26: Camila Venezuela as the protagonist in Horizon of exile (2007)……...…...216 Image 27: Camila Venezuela in the erasure scene in Horizon of exile (2007)………...220 Image 28: Grace Ndiritu in Nightingale (2004)………………………………………..231 vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you Allyson Green, Frank Wilderson, Anthony Davis and Ted Shank for all you contributed as members of my committee. I am indebted to my chair, Janet Smarr, whose timely, insightful feedback was invaluable and who maintained a saintly patience with me even as I abused the semi-colon like she has probably never seen. Thank you to Paul Fleck for being supportive of my educational endeavors. I am grateful to my fellow PhD students, for their support, guidance, empathy, and friendship. Thank you Aimee, Jade, Rana, Grace, Heather, Michael, Rai, Phil, Zack, Fan, Laura, Maiya, Naysan, Heather, and Julie. Thank you to Alison Miller who reminded me to break it down into small parts and savor each success along the way. viii VITA EDUCATION: Ph.D. Drama and Theatre U.C. San Diego and U.C. Irvine Joint Ph.D program in Theatre and Drama M.A. Dance/Choreography San Diego State University B.A. Experimental Dance, Music Minor University of California, San Diego TEACHING EXPERIENCE: 9/04 – present, University of California, San Diego. Taught Screendance (dance & 9/90-6/91 and technology), Dance History, Stage to Screen (TA), Theatre History & 9/83-8/85: Literature (TA), Play Analysis. Associate Faculty in Dance. Lecturer in the Music Department. Guest choreographer in the Theatre Department. Developed and taught courses in Experimental Choreography, Modern and Jazz techniques. 8/09- present California State University, San Marcos. Lecturer teaching The Human and Experience: Intro. to Humanities Through the Arts. Adjunct faculty in the 1/95-8/01: Visual and Performing Arts Dept. Taught Contemporary Modern Dance, Dance History, Choreography, Power and Popular Culture and General Education Humanities. Directed student productions, choreographed performance projects. Advised dance students. Served on departmental committee. Developed curricula, including the course, Cultures in Motion. 9/01- 6/02 Palomar College. Adjunct faculty in the Performing Arts Dept. Taught Contemporary dance technique. 8/87-6/97 Mira Costa College. Associate Faculty in Dance. Taught Performance and Production, Modern and Jazz techniques, Choreography, Improvisation. Co-directed dance productions. Developed curriculum in Dance History, Choreography and Improvisation. Advised students. 9/87-6/90 United States International University. Associate Professor. Taught Dance History and Modern Dance. Guest Lecturer in the Humanities program. Mesa College. Part-time Faculty in Dance. Taught Modern and Ballet techniques. ix 1/86-6/88 San Diego State University. Part-time faculty/graduate student. Taught Modern and Jazz techniques. CHOREOGRAPHIC WORKS: 2001-present Founding member of DROUGHT BUOY, a theatre/dance/music interdisciplinary performance trio with bassist, Gunnar Biggs and poet/vocalist, Brandon Cesmat. Developed a repertoire of more than twenty pieces including CALIFORNIATOWN, RIVER MURMURS, JITTERS, DREAMING AMERICAN, and BORN ANALOG. Performances include California Center for the Arts Escondido, Casa de la Cultura in Tijuana, Southwestern College, Seaside Park on the US/Mexican border, En Voz Alta, Dizzy’s, Escondido and San Diego Public Libraries, 101 Arts, Palomar Community College and more. Created a Drought Buoy video. FREEWAYS AND A BRIDGE (2005) Dance on video project. SHADES OF IMPERMANENCE (2003) A dance/video, site-specific, piece addressing ephemeral aspects of dance, art, nature, and life, in collaboration