The Watermelon Woman
Cheryl DunyeUSA 1996 / 83 min
Cheryl, jung, Schwarz und lesbisch, arbeitet in einer Videothek in Philadelphia und verdient sich mit Hochzeitsvideos Geld dazu. Beim Sichten alter Filme aus den 30ern […]
The Watermelon Woman – Film & Gespräch in Kooperation mit der Universität Wien am 29. Juni
Wir freuen uns eine Sondervorstellung zum Rerelease Kinostart von THE WATERMELON WOMAN von Cheryl Dunye in Kooperation mit der Universität Wien zu verkündigen!
Nach dem Film findet eine Podiumsgespräch zu “Who Was the Watermelon Woman?: (In)Visibility, Stereotypes, and Politics” statt. Das Gespräch findet in Englisch statt!
Who Was the Watermelon Woman?: (In)Visibility, Stereotypes, and Politics
The Watermelon Woman (1996) by Cheryl Dunye is a landmark work of independent queer and Black cinema. The film follows a young Black lesbian videomaker as she searches for the forgotten history of a Black actress from the 1930s and 1940s, known only as “The Watermelon Woman”. Blending fiction, archival material, and autobiography, Dunye creates a powerful act of historical reclamation and visibility.
The event consists of a screening of the film followed by a moderated conversation designed as a meeting point between academic inquiry and the public. Through dialogue, we will guide participants in reflecting on how cinema has historically constructed (and often distorted) queer and Black representations — from comic, deviant, or villainous stereotypes to more complex, fluid, and non-stereotypical narratives. During the discussion, we will explore which stereotypes the film breaks
down, which ones it consciously retains, and what alternative narrative strategies are possible today. The aim is to foster an open, accessible, and critical dialogue that values ambiguity, fluidity, and the multiplicity of experiences.The event forms part of a broader effort to bridge academic research and the public sphere, transforming the cinema space into a site of collective reflection and thought.
The discussion is led by Prof. Dr. Monika Pietrzak-Franger (Full Professor for British Cultural and Literary Studies, University of Vienna), Dr. Tomi Adeaga, Kamilla Peter, and Vincenzo Straface.
Montag, 29. Juni 2026, 14:00 – TICKETS
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