A film about queer education, drag and television. 4:3 is the first work in a series that explores re-performance as a form or remembering, re-looking and re-learning, 2020 – on going.
4:3 is a film which examines Ames’ experiences of growing up queer under Section 28 in a small northern town; with nowhere to go apart from television. Section 28 instated in 1988 declared that a local authority "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" meaning that homosexuality could not be taught in mainstream education.
4:3 is the former aspect ratio of televisions, and growing up 4:3 was Ames’ ratio, their limited square portal to a queer education. Using the few queer characters Ames sought out on telly, watched, rewatched, and studied as a child – from Willow & Tara in Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Ellen coming out to Oprah, this work explores re-performance as a form of remembering, re-looking and re-learning.
Did I fancy them or did I just want to be them? Like Lacan’s mirror stage, where children look for their likeness in things, but the mirror and stage have gone a bit bent. Through green-screen and a bad temporal dragging of these quintessentially naff, but precious moments in TV history, Ames hopes to simulate the queer imaginary spaces they created for themselves as a child.
4:3 was supported by Heart of glass and premiered at Homotopia festival 2020. Filmed and edited by Sophie Mallett . If you are interested in screening this work or would like to discuss developing it further please get in touch.
30 second preview of 4:3 along with film stills.