There's a belonging problem in Hollywood. Who dictates who belongs? The very body who dictates that looks all one way.
Ava DuvernayRead
Artists should be free to create what we want. I believe there's a special value in work that is a reflection of oneself as opposed to interpretation. When I see a film or a TV show about black people not written by someone who's black, it's an interpretation of that life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Artists should create authentic work that reflects their own experiences and identities.
Ava Duvernay emphasizes the importance of personal authenticity in artistic expression. She suggests that when artists create from their own lived experiences, the work holds a unique value that cannot be replicated through the interpretations of others, especially regarding cultural narratives. This speaks to the broader theme of representation and the significance of diverse voices in storytelling.
Themes
ArtRepresentationAuthenticitySelf-ExpressionCulture
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in discussions at art workshops about the importance of personal narratives in art.
More from Ava Duvernay
All quotes →I just don't think there's a lot of support for the woman's voice in cinema, and it becomes really difficult to raise that money and start again every time.
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I didn't go to film school. I got my education on the set as a niche publicist in the film industry.
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I think for female filmmakers a big issue is making their second and third films.
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When we say there's a dearth of women directors, it's not that there's a lack of women who direct: it's a lack of opportunities and access for women to direct and be supported in that.
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I intend to be making films until I'm an old lady. So, if God willing I get there, I need to create a paradigm for myself where I can make it regardless of whether or not they still like what I'm making.
Ava DuvernayRead
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