Miss Representation

Reminding viewers that so much of young people's perceptions are shaped by the media, actress-turned-director Jennifer Siebel Newsom's documentary Miss Representation looks at retrograde images of women that populate action movies, advertising campaigns, television shows, and websites. A woman's appearance is constantly scrutinized in the media, regardless of her positions or other attributes or qualifications (as examples, Newsom cites Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and former Senator Elizabeth Dole, among numerous others). While she awaits the birth of her first child—a girl—Newsom recalls how this sort of messaging led her to seek approval from men, which contributed to an eating disorder. She also worries that the next generation will fall into the same trap—fears that are borne out through interviews with high school girls, several of whom break down when talking about outside pressures. Newsom interviews authors, academics, activists, and famous figures including Katie Couric, Condoleezza Rice, Gloria Steinem, Geena Davis, Paul Haggis, Jane Fonda, and Gavin Newsom, lieutenant governor of California (whom she oddly neglects to mention is her husband). Observations from these high-profile figures are interwoven with statistics and clips to further help drive the point home. As Margaret Cho states succinctly, “Media treats women like shit.” While Newsom's narration can be overly dramatic at times, the message she brings sadly continues to be quite relevant. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (K. Fennessy)