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University of Toronto Scarborough

Subjects of Desire Film Screening and Discussion with Director Jennifer Holness

Subjects of Desire Film Screening and Discussion with Director Jennifer Holness

"Subjects of Desire is a culturally significant, provocative film that deconstructs what we understand about race and the power behind beauty."


Date: Thursday, March 30, 2023
Time: 5:30-8:30 pm
Location: HL-B101 (Highland Hall, U of T Scarborough)
Who: This event is open to all Faculty, Staff, Students, Librarians and the wider community

Dinner will be served at the start of this event.

This event will showcase the 2021 film, Subjects of Desire, followed by a conversation with the writer, producer, and director, Jennifer Holness.

Film synopsis: 
"Subjects of Desire explores the cultural shift in North American beauty standards towards embracing Black female aesthetics and features while exposing the deliberate and often dangerous portrayals of Black women in the media. From society’s new fixation on the ‘booty’, fuller lips, the dramatic rise of spspray-tannedkin, ethnic hairstyles, and athletic bodies, some argue that Black women are having a beauty moment. But others, primarily Black women, argue that traditional Black features and attributes are seen as more desirable when they are on white women.

Told from the point of view of women who aren’t afraid to challenge conventional beauty standards, the film is partially set at the 50th Anniversary of the Miss Black America Pageant, a beauty pageant that was created as a political protest."


Accessibility Information

HL-B101 is a lecture room with tiered seating and steps. This room can be accessed by stairs and elevator. 

Please register to attend this event. RSVP now to secure your spot HERE ! 


At UTSC there are several accessible parking spaces (the closest accessible parking lots are Pc and Pd. For more information, please view this campus map.)  If you are taking public transit, it is the building directly north of the UTSC bus loop. 

Campus map: https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/home/sites/utsc.utoronto.ca.home/files/UTSCCampusMap.pdf 

It is our goal to make this event accessible to all interested in attending. If you have any questions or requests to best accommodate your participation, please contact the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Office (edio.utsc@utoronto.ca).