Constructions of femininity in music documentaries about Chilean female musicians

Abstract

A recent study confirmed the existence of more than 200 music documentaries produced in Chile between 1990 and 2019. Of this body of films, only a small number have women as main characters. Combining theoretical references from Musicology and Film Studies, this article offers an in-depth analysis of music documentaries focused on Chilean female musicians from a gender perspective to understand how these productions portray women. In terms of methodology, we selected five documentaries focused on artists such as Nicole, Mon Laferte and Violeta Parra. The film analysis seeks to understand the discourses about gender issues and reveal what narratives, topics, audiovisual strategies, and gender stereotypes these films promote. Music documentaries are not simply products that document music practices but discourses about music that outline how we understand it. In this light, this article reveals how music documentaries portray Chilean female musicians and the gender constructions that shape these portraits

Feminist musicology

Gender perspective

Music documentary

Audiovisual narrative

Chilean music