Kristy Guevara-Flanagan, whose documentary feature debut about female adolescence, GOING ON 13, premiered at Tribeca, continues to focus on “girl power” by exploring female superheroes, and perhaps their most famous representative, Wonder Woman, in her new feature documentary.
Through an exploration of the seventy year history of DC Comics’ Amazon princess and other heroines, THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE AS TOLD BY WONDER WOMAN explores how our culture navigates female identity and empowerment, and the need for powerful, non-sexualized examples of women role models. The twists and turns of the character’s history and representation serves as a case study of modern women’s experiences. Featuring commentary from Lynda Carter, who played the character in the 1970s TV series; Lindsay Wagner, known for another popular female TV hero, THE BIONIC WOMAN; feminist activist Shelby Knox; comic book creators; and more, the film aims to provide a rounded view of women’s place in not only the superhero landscape but in pop culture in general.
Guevara-Flanagan and producer Kelcey Edwards are wrapping up a successful Kickstarter campaign tomorrow, having surpassed their $10,000 towards post expenses in just over a week.
The film has a website and a Facebook page where fans can keep updated on the project’s progress.
I loved the 1970s WONDER WOMAN TV series (the WWII set seasons more than the present day). But despite my fond memories, unlike her male counterparts Superman and Batman, Wonder Woman has had a much more difficult time reaching newer audiences across different media in the past three decades, as evidenced by the torturous path her new TV series has taken over the past couple of years, and the absence of a theatrical feature. She’s an iconic figure, has a great mythology, and a fascinating creator – pop psychologist William Moulton Marston, who also invented the lie detector, had a penchant for bondage, and was in a polyamorous relationship with two women. A way should really be found to reconnect her, and other female heroes, with new generations of potential fans of both sexes, but especially girls and women. Perhaps Guevara-Flanagan’s film will help make that happen.
what (not) to doc 