The Heroine’s Quest in Film

What elements differentiate a “heroine’s quest” from a “hero’s journey?” What markers tell us that we have entered a mythic mission into the deep feminine? What features do ‘female gaze’ films affirm that the collective has devalued?

Film is a powerful imaginal medium and cultural messenger that inspires both reflection and vision. In this daylong immersion we’ll delve into feminine quest tales as imagined by female filmmakers. Through the lens of depth psychology, mythic imagination, and the language of archetype and dream, we’ll investigate how heroine quest films and ‘the female gaze’ itself seek to restore lost fairy tale values in these times of ubiquitous hero journey tales.

Via lecture, discussion, and analyses of film images and clips, we’ll glimpse into and amplify works from gifted contemporary, historic, and emerging female filmmakers from around the world. Recurrent heroine quest motifs will be highlighted, observed and contemplated. This day will provide encouraging insight and practical experience gathering meaning from an abundance of female storytelling, artistry, and authority.