Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Documentaries & depictions

The previous two days' posts have got more hits than anything before: Slutwalk and Molls & modesty. I guess sex sells. But for all the hundreds of page hits, only one comment, and one new follower. I don't really mind how you choose to find out more: RSS, email subscription, Google friends -- all those options are in the right-hand column. If you like what you are reading here, please sign up to one. But, more importantly, please, leave some feedback. Brazil, Portugal, Germany! Tell me what you think! Egypt, Saudi, India! I know you are there, silently reading!

So today, a brief request instead of a lengthy essay or interpretation of a chapter. Stimulated by a query from "lost daughter" Voltairine de Cleyre:

Do you know of any depictions of Mary Wollstonecraft in current culture?  I am thinking of radio or TV or cinema dramas or documentaries especially, but other media are welcome. (Yes, we've covered tattoos, thank you, but what about other visual representations?) In terms of live performances, I know of last month's Silver Ship, a play in New Zealand; and another original drama in 2005 in the USA; and a London-local layered piece: all three were also video recorded, because that's what you do these days. Of course, I want Mary: the Movie, but has there really been nothing previous?  Does MW even appear as a character in other people's life stories, on stage or screen? 

I know of a few appearances on BBC Radio 4 (tagline: "intelligent speech"). Just after the 250th anniversary of Mary Wollstonecraft's birth, biographer Janet Todd spoke to Jenni Murray about her status now, and future meanings. Also at that time, a series of three letters to Mary were commissioned, from Janet Todd on the education of girls, Richard Reeves on republicanism, and Natasha Walters on feminism. A year ago, Mary Beard championed her namesake in a balloon debate on Woman's Hour. Melvyn Bragg, who appears to have a thing for MW, and quite right too, devoted an episode of In Our Time to a formal discussion. 

Is that it? Let's leave books for another time -- biographies and fiction. But for audio, video, performance, art,  whatever -- are there no other depictions of Mary Wollstonecraft?

No comments:

Post a Comment