American Reflexxx

Blog post 3     

American Reflexxx

Among my favorite examples of editing with clear artistic intent is the short video documentary American Reflexxx. American Reflexxx is quite literally a societal reflection of the dehumanization, discrimination, fetishization and sexualization of trans women in America. The editing is not smooth, nor is it meant to be. In this case, maintaining the raw quality of the footage was a stronger choice than editing for continuity or a linear story. The choice not to edit the audio, or play any kind of music or voiceover underneath is extremely impactful. Hearing the crude, animalistic words and sounds of the crowd is exponentially more visceral and disturbing than any score would have been. This is especially true around 10 minutes and 30 seconds into the video. I have a hard time re-watching this part…to see a woman lying on the street contrasted with people joking, laughing and yelling produces a very physical revulsion. The image of this woman being pushed down is the physical embodiment of the emotional battering that trans women (and men) receive on a daily basis in America. The choppy, obvious edits and repetition of shots creates a disjunct between reality and this deranged world in which a woman walking down the street is looked at as a monster. The fun colors and font of the subtitles adds to this alternate reality; this unsettling dichotomy of neon colors, smiling crowds and evil, dark undertones.