Miss Representation Screening and Discussion

Consider the Alternatives: A Documentary Film Series is presented by the Burchfield Penney and the Buffalo State Communication Department and part of Buffalo State's Year of the Arts.

Consider the Alternatives asks its audience to consider the alternatives – always. Using an eclectic array of subject matter, the films showcased in Consider the Alternatives explore both alternative responses to social problems and alternative ways of living and organizing families and societies, all while celebrating human triumph over adversity and repression. Consider the Alternatives is curated by documentary filmmaker Meg Knowles and media and social critic Mike Niman, both professors in the Buffalo State College Communication Department.

Written and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Miss Representation (90 min; TV-14 DL) exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film challenges the media’s limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful herself.

Stories from teenage girls and provocative interviews with politicians, journalists, entertainers, activists and academics, like Condoleezza Rice, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, Margaret Cho, Rosario Dawson and Gloria Steinem build momentum as Miss Representation accumulates startling facts and statistics that will leave the audience shaken and armed with a new perspective.

Runaway, which was originally scheduled for this evening, is postponed until fall of 2012.

Runaway, Directed by Meg Knowles; Produced by Brian Milbrand,& Courtney Grim

Runaway tells the story of the filmmaker’s sister, who, in the summer of 1973, disappeared from a New England riding camp at age 14. Despite extensive investigations by both police and detectives, months passed and her family could find no trace of her.  For more than 35 years, her family has never discussed their experiences of that summer – until now.   2012 – 56 min.