Gender, A Topic or War? (Part Two)

Not Supposed to But Yet to

There are definitely ways that Walsh's approach could have been done differently. First and foremost, it is important to approach discussions about gender with respect and an open mind. Interrupting, mocking, and belittling interviewees is not only disrespectful, but it also shuts down any possibility of productive dialogue. One possible way to approach discussions about gender is to listen actively and ask open-ended questions that invite the interviewee to share their thoughts and experiences. It is also important to be aware of one's own biases and assumptions, and to be willing to challenge them in order to gain a deeper understanding of the topic.

In The Red Pill, Cassie Jaye's approach of seeking to understand a polarizing movement by engaging in respectful dialogue and actively listening to the perspectives of others can serve as a good example. It adopts a curious and empathetic tone that aims to explore what Jaye considers to be the misunderstood and neglected issues of men’s rights activists. In Jaye’s actress career, she played too many typical images of ‘vulnerable blond’ in horror films, and she was sick of it. As this fundamental cliché has long rooted in the film industry and rotted, people finally begin to put the spotlight on more different images of women, but still far enough from a satisfactory level. Any gender issue is not a minor issue; it is universally existing and also a dynamic paradox until it is well discussed and digested. Following that, Jaye put her camera on both men and women, feminist and MRA. She knew that in both sides, there are people who care about gender issues, and in both sides, there are people who actually care about the other side. However, as both sides want to be heard, and one side can always sense unfairness to hear about the other side talking about their problems.

Jaye's Diary, reflecting her interview, experience and feeling with MRA

By approaching the topic with an open mind and a willingness to learn, Jaye was able to gain a deeper understanding of the issues at play and engage in meaningful dialogue. This is a model that can be applied to many different topics, including gender, and can lead to more productive and respectful conversations. Different from Folk, Jaye’s documentary was more balanced on both sides of the pros and cons between the feminist and the MRA. And compared to Walsh, Jaye’s journey was more of a self-revision and challenged her own assumptions and stereotypes about gender roles, power, and privilege.

In the interview, Jaye mostly invite her interviewees to share their perspectives or stories. She also listens attentively and respectfully to them, even when they express views that are contrary to her own or make her uncomfortable. She often uses silence or facial expressions to convey her curiosity or confusion, rather than interrupting or arguing with them. For example, she asks a men’s rights activist what he means by “gynocentrism” in society, and then nods silently as he explains his theory. She also asks a feminist activist why she thinks men’s rights activists are misogynists, and then looks puzzled as she says that they hate women because they are insecure about their masculinity. Jaye included a lot of her own reaction shots while inserting many diaries of talking about her internal transformation to the camera. In this approach, we could indulge in feelings. We weren’t driven to a firm answer but given enough space to take time to empathize with the interviewee, therefore to figure out our interpretation of what is happening to gender issues. Patriarchal society is a problematic system, but if we put every blame on that, then it is actually destroying the space for people who want to get out of it.

Jaye's interview with an MRA.

In the cinematic aspect, Jaye uses balanced editing, neutral music, realistic visuals, and reflective narration to emphasize her points and create a sense of discovery or surprise. For example, she cuts between scenes of men’s rights activists explaining their issues and statistics, scenes of feminist protesters disrupting their events or accusing them of hate speech, scenes of her own video diary where she expresses her doubts or dilemmas, and scenes of her interviewing feminists or academics who challenge or confirm her findings. She also uses calm music, bright colors, clear images, and factual headlines to create a contrast between her own emotional and conflicted voice-over and the rational and factual world of men’s rights activists. Jaye had no intention to find out what was wrong or right, as to quote her monologue in the end, she discovered what she had left behind. It was nothing like she as a person missed anything she was supposed to have, but her life as a journey yet has somewhere to go.

Although Joye's documentary appears to be more casual, it effectively added to its spontaneity. We see people naturally unfold themselves under her camera, which made the whole film convincing.

The Balance and Counter-Balance

Gender issues are complex and multifaceted. It requires more research, dialogue, and empathy from all sides. We need to make more space for women’s voices; we need to pay more attention to women’s concerns, but it does not necessarily mean that we need to shut men up. The way we conduct and present the interviews will lead to a significantly different effect. While both films use similar rhetorical and cinematic techniques, they also offer valuable insights and questions that can contribute to a more nuanced and constructive dialogue on gender and society. Ultimately, the goal of any film should not be to provoke or to polarize but to inform and inspire.

If you were the director to make a documentary about gender, how would you do it?

You May Click to Review the First Part: Gender, A Topic or War? (Part One)