From Human Zoos to Modern Day Appeal; New film Subjects of Desire explores the evolution of African beauty

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

Did you know that there was a time when people once paid an admission fee to enter what was known as a “human zoo?

People used to come from around the world to view the bodies of African women. Why do you ask? Well, it cannot be denied; the African woman’s body has long been heralded as exotic. It is natural for African women to have full lips, small waists, high cheekbones, big legs, bowed hips, succulent breasts, and round butts.

For years, the African woman’s body has been used for entertainment, casual sex, and bearing children for centuries. In Toronto, especially during the summer time, a walk down the street can be compared to walking into a Godiva Chocolate store. You can choose from short to tall, light skinned to cocoa chocolate, slim to voluptuous, straight hair to coarser hair, brown eyes to green eyes, and the list of variations is limitless. African women are part of a race that has this much variation.

I am proud to be a black woman, but I am not pleased with how our bodies are viewed. The body that is genetically natural to African women, women from other cultures buy, pay, and go through surgery to achieve. Myself, I am a slender African woman. My breasts are size 34D; my waist is 29 inches; my hip circumference is 35.5 inches; my lips are full; my face is long with high cheekbones; my thighs are proportioned, and my calves are plump and toned. I am about 5’9, and there is definitely a reaction when I am walking in a room that is filled with people who don’t necessarily look like me.

I know I am not the only one who feels this way, and this is why when I was introduced to the film “Subjects of Desire,” I was instantly intrigued, and I wanted to hear the experience of the mind behind this true to life project.

Subjects of Desire is a documentary that examines the cultural shift in North American beauty standards, now more so embracing African aesthetics and features. What the film highlights is societies evolved fixation on the: booty, fuller lips, ethnic hairstyles and dramatic rise of spray tanned skin. However, it has been argued that traditional African features and attributes are in fact seen as more desirable when they are on women of other cultures rather than on African women.

There is a historical and popular cultural expression of African and Caucasian beauty, and the film weaves through past and present, told from the point of view of women actively engaged in this debate. The film deconstructs what we understand about race and the power behind societal branded beauty standards.

The company behind this film is Hungry Eyes Media, co-founded by the dynamic, and intensely creative duo of Jennifer Holness and Sudz Sutherland. They have found a way to bring a fresh, authentic perspective to telling powerful, controversial, yet thought provoking stories. Their ability to do so has put them in a place to receive numerous national and international awards and accolades.

After sifting through both of our busy schedules, Jennifer Holness and I were able to sit down and talk a little bit about Subjects of Desire, and the journey that had brought her to this point. Jennifer has been a filmmaker and producer for nearly twenty years. She has produced TV documentaries, including:

• Badge of Pride (CBC & PBS)
• Brick by Brick (Omni)
• Yin Yin Jade Love (TVO)
• Delores: The Art of Modelling (Bravo)
• Speakers for the Dead (CBC/NFB)

This project was of great importance to Jennifer, especially after having three daughters of her own, now aged: 14, 17, and 19 years old.

“The idea came to me,” Jennifer began, “because at my daughter’s school, there were not a lot of black children. I would overhear dialogue between my daughter and her friends, and there was a lot of dialogue about physical attributes. A lot of white children were coveting black features, and they readily admitted it.

 I realized growing up that I was not the standard, so it was interesting to see that what was once unattractive and unappealing was now trending. Appropriation became a big deal, and dialogue around black female beauty became discussion, so I decided that it was time to bring more awareness to the topic.

 In 2018 the film went into development, and in 2019 we filmed most of it. In, 2020 during this pandemic, I edited it even when I caught COVID-19, and felt really sick. It was that important to me. I felt like as a black woman, I wanted to take a look at how black women are depicted. Women get their power from their beauty. White feminists were saying beauty was not important, and I didn’t necessarily agree. I wanted to look at beauty as power. It is about beauty, but it is a political film.”

Up to this point, Jennifer had made five documentaries, but she had not directed a film. She pitched to some commission editors, and they completely dismissed it. Two didn’t feel it was a story. One person didn’t want to meet with her. I asked her about these challenges, and she was very transparent about the process.

“I have had so many challenges hurled at me on all fronts, and finally I am at this point that it is getting easier.

It’s hard. My husband and I are the main team. It is hard to keep a team. What I realize is that you can’t work alone for too long. You have to get people who are more experienced. I am now building an experienced team that is truly committed to change. I want to thank our Cinematographers Iris Ng, and Ricardo Diaz, as well as our editor Lawrence Jackman.

This film was definitely created for the young people. I have African women of all ages who watch this film and leave it in tears. I know that there are times when African women feel like they are alone. No girlfriend, it is by design. It is happening to all of us. We need to celebrate. Our beauty is being coveted, respected, and we have to now use that power.”

You can learn more about the riveting, and powerful film by visiting https://subjectsofdesire.com/