Sherry B. Ortner (2012) suggests that American independent filmmakers produce films that are, in many respects, ‘against Hollywood’. How does My Own Private Idaho both reinforce and problematise this proposition?

Film history

Essay – 2,700-3,300words

Sherry B. Ortner (2012) suggests that American independent filmmakers produce films that are, in many respects, ‘against Hollywood’. How does My Own Private Idaho both reinforce and problematise this proposition?

Materials

American Independent Cinema: New Queer Cinema
My Own Private Idaho (Gus van Sant, USA 1991)
Film Link: https://solarmovie.pe/watch-movie/watch-my-own-private-idaho-
free-16869.5302333

Reading:
Rich, B. Ruby (1992) ‘New Queer Cinema’, Sight and Sound, September 1992
https://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/features/new-queer-cinema-b-ruby-
rich