Ritual

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Sweating Indian Style:
Conflicts Over Native American Ritual

Produced and directed by Susan Smith, this video documents a group of non-Native women searching for self in "other." The video focuses on a specific set of New Age women in Ojai, California, who construct a new sweat lodge and perform their own ceremony. The video juxtaposes their activities with a range of Native American objections to ritual appropriation which are articulated by both academic and non-professional native American women. Produced at the Center for Visual Anthropology, University of Southern California, April, 1994. (57 minutes)

Goddess Grace

A moving meditation with Mariel and Friends weaves together movements from yoga, bellydance, other dance forms and exercise routines in a continously flowing Tai Chi-style format. The movements are coordinated with a spoken meditation which invokes 26 godesses from around the world in alphabetical order from Athena to Zoe. It includes their geographical origins, some imagery associated with them, and empowering, first person affirmations. (115 minutes)

Ritual Drumming

This video combines instructions on practical drumming techniques with primal metaphysical concerns on drumming and rhythm. Layne Redmond shows how the basic tones and strokes of a fram drum, such as a tambourine, have a direct relationship to the elemental qualities of Earth. Illustrations of the long heritage of women frame drummers are interesting and allow connection with the herstory of this woman's art.