The Art of Hollering
Program Synopsis
"Hey little girl, is your daddy home?"
"Yo shortie, can I holler at you!"
"Hey mami, where you going?"
"Excuse me you stuck up bitch, I was talking to you!"
The Art of Hollering is a short documentary featuring different voices, opinions, and techniques about this primitive form of communication between the sexes. Hollers are not only verbal - hollers are also whistles, stares, and the undressing of your body with predatory eyes. How does a woman in an urban setting get to where she is going without a barrage of sexual harassment? From lewd stares, to the licking of lips, to declarations of love and/or sexual invitations, when does a complimentary act turn into a potential form of violence? The power dynamic between a woman and a man in a public space such as the street, creates an environment where the woman is objectified and therefore prone to sexual harassment. The Holler - a compliment, stare, or remark becomes a potential threat of violence when the woman contradicts her objectified status by responding and confronting the perpetrator. Faced with these situations, how can a woman respond?