Security has been beefed up for the opening of In Spite of Ourselves: Approaching Documentary at the Dowse Art Museum today. The show includes Sophia Al-Maria's Cinderazahd: For Your Eyes Only, which hit the headlines when it was discovered that only women would be allowed to see the film. The Dominion Post fueled controversy with reports of gender discrimination at work in the art museum and an editorial on "No place for women-only exhibits", and talk back radio jumped on the bandwagon inciting men to go to the museum and demand to see the film. The upshot is the museum has been placed on the back foot, addressing security concerns and the need for a police presence at the opening rather than leading a timely conversation about issues raised by the film.
Image: filmmaker Sophia Al-Maria
