Dismantling the “Tragic Mulatta” in American Independent Films: Works by John Cassavetes and Julie Dash

上智大学アメリカ・カナダ研究所主催Sophia American Studies Colloquium

上智大学アメリカ・カナダ研究所

上智大学

I explored the representations of “mulatta” women in John Cassavetes’ legendry film Shadows, made in 1959, and Julie Dash’s relatively unknown short film Illusions, made in 1982. I compared and contrasted their cinematic efforts to subvert the “Tragic Mulatta” stereotype and to explore new images of mixed race women in American independent films.