This past week, CALA staff member Anne Maguire was a featured panelist at the Whitney Museum’s screening and discussion of Barbara Hammer’s History Lessons. In the film, which was originally released in 2000, Barbara Hammer reclaims and rewrites lesbian history through her playful but empowering manipulation of a vast array of archival footage, drawn from popular films, newsreels, sex ed pics, stag reels, medical and educational films, old nudies, and more. Anne played a central role in the creation of the film as its archival researcher; the clips she collected throughout her time working at the Prelinger Archive make up a majority of the images seen in the film. Anne was also used as what she calls the “ghostly archivist” who is referenced throughout the film.
The screening was followed up by a panel discussion featuring Anne as well as three of the film’s actors: Carmelita Tropicana, Mo B. Dick, and Jane Fine. The conversation was moderated by Matt Wolf, one of the guest curators for the 2019 Whitney Biennial film program.
Check out some pictures from the evening below. To learn more about the film and where you can find it, visit Barbra Hammer’s website: http://barbarahammer.com/films/history-lessons/
