Ep. 248: The Watermelon Woman

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss Cheryl Dunye's nineties lesbian classic The Watermelon Woman. A fictional film that incorporates elements of documentary, it stars Dunye as a character named Cheryl who, like the real Dunye, embarks on a project investigating Black women in Old Hollywood films. Topics include the movie's engagement with Old Hollywood, its depiction of a lesbian community, Dunye's approach to political filmmaking, and more.

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Links

“Cheryl Dunye on Making History with ‘The Watermelon Woman,’ Representation, and Performance,” Daniel Schindel, The Film Stage

“Cheryl Dunye Always Knew Black Lives Mattered: ‘The Watermelon Woman’ Legacy,” Jude Dry, IndieWire

“The Watermelon Woman: The Enduring Cool of a Black Lesbian Classic,” Yohana Desta, Vanity Fair