Quotes About Representation

Fashion is a language, and therefore says something about politics, and certain fashion styles get associated with certain political standpoints.

We talk about characters in literature as though they were built on the model of the real person, but then I often think that the way we present ourselves as real people is based heavily on the way literary psychologies are stylized, and I wonder how the two forms of realistic personhood feed on or fulfill each other.

A segregated spiritual subculture does women no good, even if it does have adorable butterflies in the logo.

In the past, I have played the roles of subdued, self-sacrificing women. But we need to show our women as bolder individuals. I know this will happen.

If it is properly done, the 'as told to' autobiography represents how the subject wants his story told.

The Government and the Parliament, even the House of Lords, will consent to a large increase of electors; and men who have not considered the subject fully will imagine they have gained much by the concession.

When there is a certain subject matter where I want to get involved, where I think I could add to the conversation, and especially with gender issues, I appreciate having that voice and that seat at the table.

Expectations that black directors have to make black films about black subject matter are, to me, kind of absurd.

My straight friends accept I'm gay but they forget that some people don't. Even now, if I go into a party, people don't usually assume I'm gay, so you have to keep coming out. And if you say you've got a film with a gay subject matter, you can sometimes see people's eyes going, 'Oh! OK!'

As the ego cogito, subjectivity is the consciousness that represents something, relates this representation back to itself, and so gathers with itself.

I shy away from doing heroine-dominated subjects.

Maintaining the dignity of my subjects has grown to be, over the years, an imperative in my work, both in the taking of the pictures and in their presentation.

In the past, I think my films that focused on African subjects struggled in the marketplace because of their subject matter.

I don't see myself playing the docile, submissive bahu on television!

Generally speaking, we as black people have been celebrated more for when we are subservient when we are not being leaders or kings or in the center of our own narrative driving it forward.

All black women aren't sassy, loud, difficult, or subservient. We are, in fact, very complex and very diverse, living very complex and diverse lives. That point cannot be made enough.

I won't take parts where the female character has no substance.

Whether I'm in a sari or a mini skirt hardly matters as long as the role I do in a film is substantial and makes a difference.

We need to encourage more women to write roles for other women. The great substantive roles aren't being written for women and aren't being produced and directed by women.

There are not that many parts for actors who are not white - even less substantive ones.

A small group of councillors sought to force a vote of no-confidence in my leadership. They did so with no substantive consultation with the members they represent.

What I do miss is foreign travel, because there really is no substitute for showing up somewhere and representing the United States.

It's funny you can pretty much substitute the same actors in that top tier, whether it's a Chris Evans or a Chris Pratt or a Chris Pine, for different movies and it becomes almost a joke. But it doesn't happen that way for people of color.

Art is the concrete representation of our most subtle feelings.