Breaking Rules of Outsider Stories
Telling Tales ~ By Hook Or By Crook and Billy Tipton: Breaking rules of outsider stories Films and Artist Talk by Silas Howard Tuesday November 24, 6pm McGill University, Leacock Building, Room 232 (855 Sherbrooke West) Silas Howard, filmmaker and former member of Tribe 8, will investigate outsider stories in film through clips and discussion of his work. He will discuss the relationships between voice, style and language along with issues of memory, loss and desire. In so doing, he will explore how experimental and queer theories interact with classical structure and transgressive narratives in film. Silas will focus on the power of transformative loss, grief and humor and the relationship to a transgender representation in his work. Historically the white middle class has defined itself by what it is not. It is the identification and casting out of the “other” that has helped dominant society draw parameters around what it considers to be normal or desirable. In other words, the “other” is not outside of society; it is the exclusion of the “other” that becomes the foundation of “normal” society. In recent years, we have seen the immense ability of dominant society to co-opt certain narratives and make them into stereotypes. Silas will address questions such as: What happens when ‘the other’ does not adhere to its given stereotype? Does the “other” get punished for transgression or is there an opening for a non-dominant narrative to be heard? Conversely, what happens when the central character is playing out its given stereotype? “In my first film By Hook or By Crook, we wanted a story about a budding friendship. The fact that they happen to be queer and/or trans is purposefully off the point. If you call them something, other than sad, rambling, spirited, sharp or funny…you might call them ‘butches‘. We see butch as a third gender, not exactly female and not exactly male. By refusing to explain its representation of gender or gain a heteronormative society’s understanding through a ‘coming out’ story, the film invites the audience to interpret it for themselves. Ironically this can pose as many problems for gay/queer audience as it can for straight ones.” Clips will be shown from Rise Above; the Tribe 8 Documentary, narrative feature By Hook or By Crook, short documentary What I Love About Dying, his new short film, Blink, and excerpts from his solo show, Thank You For Being Urgent. ****** SILAS HOWARD, (writer, director, and musician), co-directed his first feature, By Hook Or By Crook, with Harry Dodge. The indie classic was a 2002 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL premiere and five-time Best Feature winner. The film was picked up by the Sundance Channel. Howard’s screenplay, Exactly Like You, (co-written with Nina Landey), is a Nantucket Screenwriters Colony fellow and finalist for the 2005 Sundance Filmmaker’s lab. Howard’s first short documentary, What I Love About Dying, premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. For eight years, Howard toured nationally and internationally with the band, Tribe 8. The notorious punk band released four full-length recordings on Alternative Tentacles and was featured in Rolling Stone, The Village Voice, Interview, Billboard, Elle and The Los Angeles Times. Howard’s music videos have aired on MTV and LOGO networks in 2007-08, as did his first short musical, How do I Say This? (2008), co- directed with Michael Bodie and made for MTV Networks. Howard's writing is also featured in the anthologies, "Without a Net: Growing Up Working Class" and "Live Through This ", as well as the artists' journal, "LTTR." Howard received and MFA in directing at UCLA and was awarded the Kovler Fellowship in Film & Television, the Wasserman Film Production award and a twice recipient of the Motion Picture Association of America award. Howard was nominated for a Rockefeller award in 2004 and 2008. Howard also teaches in the literature and visual arts department at UCSD. For childcare, please contact us 48 hours in advance. This venue is wheelchair accessible.