“Half the History” Short Film Series at Tufts

Directed by Jennifer Burton
March 29, 2018 from 12:30pm - 2:30pm
Tufts campus Alumnae Lounge Aidekman Arts Complex

12:30pm luncheon
1:00pm film screening

The HALF THE HISTORY project is a series of short films exploring the under-told stories of women in American history.  The series is produced by Jennifer Burton with Five Sisters Productions in conjunction with advanced film students at Tufts University.  The first short, Tell Her Story, introduces the richness and diversity of stories yet to be explored.  Belinda’s Petition builds on Belinda Sutton’s successful petition for a pension to the Massachusetts Legislature in 1783, filmed in the actual house where Sutton was enslaved.  Margaret Lothrop and the Wayside was created in cooperation with the Minute Man National Park, and tells the story of Lothrop commitment to historical preservation of the Wayside, formerly the home of Louisa May Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and best-selling children’s book author, Harriet Lothrop and their families.  A companion stop-action animation The Wayside Families details the organic growth of a living space over time.  Abstract Expressionists is a tryptic on the visions of painters Helen Frankenthaler, Joan Mitchell, and Elaine deKooning.  This spring’s film Shirley Chisholm explores a model of moral leadership.  Amy Beach on the social pressures inhibiting the full development of artistic talent is currently in development.  By highlighting these diverse stories, Half the History connects with current feminist efforts to enrich our understanding of the past and present, and open up new possibilities for the future.