Afrodite Superstar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Afrodite Superstar is an American independent art film shot in New York City in 2006. The film has also been referred to as erotica. The director also refers to the film as an experimental film as the characters break the fourth wall, and there is a blend of satire. Afrodite Superstar was directed by Venus Hottentot. Executive producer Candida Royalle is also credited with directing the sexual scenes. Afrodite Superstar has been endorsed by American Association of Sexual Educators, Counselors and Therapists and premiered in 2007 at the New School for Social Research[1] with a discussion about women of color and sexual images. The film subsequently screened as part of an art exhibit called Hos, Putas and Dragon Ladies: Our Sexuality Remixed at the chashama Gallery in Manhattan.[2] Afrodite Superstar was nominated for 7 AVN Awards in 2007 including "Best Director", "Best Screenplay" and "Best Musical Score." The film was referred to as "erotic" and "cerebral" in Essence Magazine[3] , and was mentioned in the Village Voice's 2007 Sexy Gift Guide [4] by sexpert Tristan Taormino.
Contents |
[edit] Director
Afrodite Superstar was directed by art filmmaker Venus Hottentot. She joins Larry Clark, Matthew Barney, John Cameron Mitchell, Vincent Gallo, Michael Winterbottom and Gore Vidal (Destricted, Shortbus, The Brown Bunny, 9 Songs and Caligula) as mainstream filmmakers who sought to make thought-provoking, intelligent films with explicit sexual content.
Venus Hottentot is a feminist art school graduate who wanted to make a film that showed positive sexual representations of women of color to directly contrast the images in pop culture music videos, films and magazines, while also employing comedy and satire. She chose the name Venus Hottentot to reclaim the spirit of a South African woman, also called Sarah Baartman, who was sexually displayed and exploited in Europe. The film quotes Gloria Steinem and Bell Hooks, and the director has been called the Zane of filmmaking. Venus Hottentot does not use the word "porn" to describe Afrodite Superstar as this term is misleading for this film.[5] To this end, the film has drawn ire from those seeking to use it for pornographic purposes as porn/ audience arousal was not the director's mission.[6] As an African American filmmaker, her objective with this project was reclaiming the voice and expression of women of color, as well as raising sexual self esteem.[7] Venus Hottentot is widely suspected to be TV host/novelist art film maker Abiola Abrams.[citation needed]
[edit] Plot
The satirical film spoofs several recent pop cultural It Girl moments such as Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction and Ashlee Simpson's lip synching fiasco. It has also been called an African American Red Shoe Diaries. [8]
Afrodite Superstar evolves the standard fairytale of Cinderella —girl gets her prince and a sense of self as well. The plot summary: Have you ever dreamed of being a superstar? Poor little rich girl AfroDite hasn’t—not until she runs into CEO, the mogul’s mogul of hip hop. Catapulted in to the world of made mega-stars, AfroDite quickly becomes a top selling rapper and nothing can keep her down – not wardrobe malfunctions, not lip synching fiascos, nothing! Well, almost nothing. Finding herself a little socially challenged in the love department, her secret crush CEO only seems to see dollar signs on her forehead. The principal questions are "Will AfroDite get her man" and "Will super-stardom turn out to be everything she never wished for?"
[edit] Trivia
 |
Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- American actor Blair Underwood's debut novel Casanegra coincidentally features a rap superstar also named Afrodite. [9]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Afrodite Superstar, Afrodite Exposed, Sexual Empowerment in an Adult Hip Hop Film, Afrodite Superstar, Abiola Abrams, Venus Hottentot, Candida Royalle, Natasha Cortes, Simone Valentino, India, Mr. Marcus, Justin Long, Sativa Verte, Jay Junker, Liliana Vel
- ^ http://www.chashama.org/dale/eventdisplay.php?id=2356; this citation is provided to verify the exhibit, but does not include reference to the film.
- ^ Try This At Home : Essence.com
- ^ village voice > people > Pucker Up: Eighth Annual Sexy Gift Guide by Tristan Taormino
- ^ Sex toys reviews – AfroDite Superstar - Erotic video - Erotic and educational media
- ^ TruMix.com : PodcastDirectory.com : Professor P's P4NORAMA Podcast
- ^ Afrodite Superstar
- ^ Afrodite Superstar (2006) (V)
- ^ Amazon.com: Casanegra: A Tennyson Hardwick Novel: Books: Blair Underwood,Tananarive Due,Steven Barnes
[edit] External links
- Afrodite Superstar at the Internet Movie Database
- Director Venus Hottentot
- Afrodite Superstar Feedback
- Producer Royalle
- Essence Magazine mention
- Film Review
- Review
- Canadian Newspaper Interview
- Afrodite Superstar Trailer
- Critical Article
- Village Voice Mention
- Archived Afrodite Superstar University Premiere Info
- Candida Royalle in NY Post
- American Association of Sexuality Educators
On the Original Hottentot Venus
- A French print
- Mara Verna's interactive audio and video piece including a bibliography
- Video Girls & Hottentot Venus
- Guardian article on the return of her remains
- South Africa government site about her, including Diana Ferrus's pivotal poem
- A documentary film called The Life and Times of Sara Baartman by Zola Maseko
