Asexuality Portrayed on Screen in the Film Slow
Slow: Shining a light on asexuality
Movies and television have immense potential to represent diverse identities and experiences. The presence of characters we can relate to on the screen can be incredibly powerful, especially for underrepresented groups. However, visual storytelling depends on external cues – appearance, voice, physicality – making it harder to portray an orientation defined by internal feelings: asexuality.
Asexual individuals, or "aces," don't experience sexual attraction in the way most people do. This doesn't mean they lack emotions or relationships; in fact, the asexual spectrum is incredibly diverse. Some aces are romantically inclined, while others aren't; some engage in sexual activity for various reasons, while others prefer to avoid it. Despite some estimates suggesting around 1% of the world's population identifies as asexual, societal stigma and lack of understanding contribute to this identity being largely "invisible."
A new film is breaking ground in its nuanced portrayal of a relationship where sexual attraction isn't the driving force. Slow, directed by Lithuanian filmmaker Marija Kavtaradzė, premiered to acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival, winning the award for best director. The jury praised the filmmaker's ability to guide the audience to explore the multifaceted nature of desire. At the heart of the film is a budding romance between two individuals grappling with how to build a connection when sexual attraction isn't a shared experience. Elena (Greta Grinevičiūtė), a professional dancer with a strong connection to her physicality, finds herself drawn to Dovydas (Kęstutis Cicėnas), a sign language interpreter who identifies as asexual.
The history of 'invisible' representation
Although the term 'asexual' has been in use since the late 1970s, and LGBTQ+ visibility in media has increased overall, asexual characters remain significantly underrepresented. Any attempt to trace asexual representation in cinema often involves speculation. Historically, some characters who seem disinterested or detached from sexual matters could potentially be interpreted through an asexual lens, like Sherlock Holmes or even Barbie in Greta Gerwig's 2023 film.
Dr Kari Barclay, who is a director, playwright, and researcher specializing in asexuality, observes that "there aren't established tropes or traits that define an 'asexual film' yet." Often, it's the connection established between a film and the asexual audience that hints at potential representation, as in the case of the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde. While Warren Beatty's Clyde initially resists Bonnie's desire for intimacy, potentially raising the possibility of asexuality, his ambiguous characterization leaves room for other interpretations.
The challenge of representing asexuality on screen often leads to a reliance on labels and explicit explanations. While naming an identity can be a powerful tool for visibility and validating an often misunderstood experience, there's something refreshing about Slow's approach. The film incorporates Dovydas's asexuality seamlessly into the narrative; it's an important component of his identity yet doesn't define his entire existence.
Beyond labels: The strength of Slow's portrayal
Director Marija Kavtaradzė highlights the importance of research and sensitivity when portraying asexual experiences. She aimed to create a multidimensional character, not merely a spokesperson for an identity. Sexuality is one aspect of Dovydas, just as his background, profession, and sense of humor shape who he is. This holistic approach to characterization helps avoid the pitfall of reducing an asexual person to a single trait.
Furthermore, Slow recognizes that even within the asexual community, there's incredible diversity. Dovydas is a romantic asexual; he desires a connection but isn't driven by sexual attraction. This allows the film to explore the complexities of navigating differing levels of sexual desire within a relationship. Elena, as a sexual person, isn't framed as an antagonist or an obstacle for Dovydas to overcome. Instead, their differing approaches to sexuality and intimacy provide fertile ground for exploring communication, compromise, and defining their unique form of love.
The focus on open dialogue and negotiation is crucial. In Slow, asexuality isn't presented as a problem to be solved. Elena's initial confusion and moments of frustration are portrayed with understanding, not judgment. Kavtaradzė emphasizes that both characters are flawed yet empathetic, creating a relatable dynamic that avoids painting an idealized picture of an asexual/allosexual relationship.
The power of the cinematic language
Slow's cinematic approach plays a key role in conveying the nuances of asexuality and desire. Kavtaradzė's collaboration with cinematographer Laurynas Bareiša results in a handheld camera style that creates a sense of gentle movement and constant observation. This approach subtly reflects the ongoing dance of negotiation and exploration between Elena and Dovydas. It also allows for intimate close-ups that capture subtle shifts in emotion and unspoken understanding.
The use of humor in Slow helps demystify asexuality. Both Dovydas and Elena engage in playful teasing and silly moments, emphasizing that an asexual person can be just as joyful, vibrant, and funny as anyone else. These lighthearted scenes challenge the stereotype of asexuality being humorless or overly serious.
Notably, the importance of an intimacy coordinator on the set of Slow cannot be overstated. The portrayal of exploratory touch and moments of sexual experimentation are handled with great care. An intimacy coordinator helps choreograph these scenes, ensuring boundaries are respected and communication is open. This reinforces the message that intimacy can be multifaceted and meaningful, even when traditional sexual attraction isn't a factor.
Overall, Slow contributes significantly to the conversation about asexual representation. It showcases how nuanced, respectful, and research-backed portrayals can dismantle harmful stereotypes and create space for more diverse stories about love and intimacy. While it's a trailblazer in many ways, there's still a boundless territory to be explored in representing the full spectrum of asexual experiences across different identities, backgrounds, and cultures.
Challenges and complexities: Beyond the surface
While Slow is a major step forward, representing asexuality with depth and nuance remains a complex challenge in film and television. One key issue lies in the inherent focus on the physicality of sexual desire within visual media. How do you portray the absence of something, especially when traditional cinematic language is so often built around visual cues of attraction and longing?
This focus on the physical manifestation of desire can lead to a common misconception: that asexuality equates to a lack of desire altogether. The truth is far more complicated. Asexual people can experience romantic desire, the desire for emotional closeness, and even aesthetic attraction (enjoying someone's appearance without the sexual component). It's important for portrayals to delve into these nuances to challenge the oversimplified idea of asexual people as being devoid of desire entirely.
Another challenge lies in societal expectations around traditional relationship milestones and narratives. Films, especially romantic ones, often rely on tropes of sexual tension, flirtation, and physical consummation as markers of a relationship's progress. Portraying asexual relationships requires a rethinking of these familiar formulas, creating stories where the emotional milestones of intimacy take precedence.
The impact of harmful stereotypes
Existing portrayals of asexuality, when they occur at all, have often been riddled with harmful stereotypes. One common misconception is that all asexual people are sex-repulsed or even anti-sex. This perpetuates the misunderstanding that asexual people are incapable of healthy and fulfilling relationships. It's crucial for future films and television shows to showcase the diversity within the asexual community, including asexual characters who have positive relationships with intimacy and sex on their own terms.
Furthermore, the stereotype of asexuality being linked to immaturity or developmental issues is damaging in its infantilization of asexual individuals. This trope undermines the validity of asexual identities and can contribute to real-world discrimination and erasure. It's essential that on-screen representations actively challenge such misconceptions, depicting asexual characters as mature, complex adults deserving of respect and understanding.
The importance of diversity and intersectionality
While Slow centers a romantic asexual character, there's still a vast range of diverse asexual experiences waiting to be depicted on screen. A person's sexual identity intersects with their race, ethnicity, gender identity, disability, and cultural background, and those experiences should be reflected in on-screen stories.
For example, exploring the specific experiences of an older asexual person navigating changing societal expectations and a changing body would offer a new perspective. A story about an asexual person of color could shed light on the added layer of navigating cultural norms and family expectations. The asexual community is incredibly diverse, and representation should strive to showcase this intersectionality.
The potential of television
While independent films like Slow pave the way for nuanced portrayals, television could be another powerful platform for representing asexuality. The episodic format allows for greater character development and the exploration of evolving relationships over time. Several television series have included asexual storylines to varying degrees of success, such as the Netflix animated show "BoJack Horseman" with its well-received asexual character Todd Chavez and, more recently, shows like "Sex Education" and "Heartstopper."
With longer story arcs and opportunities for in-depth character exploration, television has the potential to showcase the complexities and varied experiences within the asexual spectrum. It could go beyond simply introducing an asexual character and delve into their emotional journeys, their struggles for self-acceptance, and the impact of their identity on their relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners.
The importance of asexual voices behind the camera
Meaningful representation extends beyond what we see on screen. Ideally, asexual individuals should have active roles in the filmmaking process, serving as writers, directors, consultants, and crew members. This ensures that portrayals of asexuality stem from genuine understanding, authenticity, and lived experiences, helping break down stereotypes and offer multifaceted characters Audiences can usually sense when representation feels tokenistic or inauthentic.
Asexual involvement behind the scenes can also help filmmakers navigate the unique sensitivities and potential pitfalls regarding asexual representation. Direct input offers the opportunity to portray experiences such as dysphoria (discomfort with one's body) or societal pressure in an informed manner, avoiding harmful tropes or stereotypes.
Moreover, increasing the number of asexual people in the entertainment industry builds a foundation for a greater range of asexual stories to be told in the future. It's one thing to include a secondary asexual character in a larger production; it's an even more significant shift to have asexual creators greenlighting and developing projects focused entirely on the exploration of asexual characters and themes.
The power of community
The active online asexual community, with platforms like AVEN and discussion forums, plays a vital role in driving better representation. These spaces serve as vital resources for information and support, allowing asexual people to share their experiences directly. Filmmakers looking to represent asexuality responsibly would benefit greatly from engaging with these communities to gain a better understanding of the multifaceted issues, challenges, and joys of living as an asexual individual.
Community engagement has already had a positive impact. Creators behind shows like "BoJack Horseman" and "Sex Education" have credited their collaboration with asexual consultants and advisors with helping make their representation more authentic and respectful. By drawing from the lived experiences of the asexual community, screenwriters and directors can avoid relying solely on assumptions or outdated ideas of what asexuality looks like.
Educating and fostering acceptance
Well-crafted representations of asexuality have the power to reach wide audiences, both within and outside the asexual community. For asexual viewers, seeing positive and realistic portrayals of characters like themselves can be incredibly validating. It combats the feeling of isolation and offers affirmation that their experiences are real and deserving of respect.
For non-asexual audiences, quality representation provides a window into a world they may not be familiar with. Positive stories can spark conversations, challenge misconceptions, and foster greater understanding and empathy within society. This kind of cultural shift can have real-world benefits, from improved understanding within families and social circles to more inclusive language in healthcare or legal settings.
A call for multifaceted stories
While films like Slow are groundbreaking in their nuanced approach, there's still a boundless territory of potential stories to be explored. Imagine a suspenseful thriller with an asexual detective navigating societal assumptions about their lack of interest in romance. Or perhaps a poignant coming-of-age film centered on an asexual teenager discovering their place within the complex landscape of adolescent friendships and relationships.
The most effective way to combat the invisibility of asexuality on screen is through a diverse and wide-ranging selection of stories. Asexuality shouldn't be relegated to a single genre or type of character. By exploring various backgrounds, personalities, and situations, representation can become richer and more inclusive, reaching a wider audience and making a deeper impact.
The future of asexual representation: A hopeful outlook
Despite the challenges and the often slow pace of progress, there's reason to be optimistic about the future of asexual representation in film and television. The growing visibility of the asexual community, thanks in large part to online platforms and advocacy groups, creates a greater demand for authentic and positive representation.
Younger generations tend to be more open to expanding definitions of sexuality and the fluidity of experiences, laying the groundwork for a future where asexual characters feel less like an anomaly and more like an integral part of the diverse tapestry of human stories.
Trailblazing films like Slow pave the way for more nuanced narratives. As groundbreaking productions demonstrate both critical acclaim and audience engagement, studios and producers may be more willing to green-light projects centering on asexual characters or delving deeply into asexual experiences.
Ultimately, lasting change hinges on continued collaboration. Filmmakers seeking to portray asexuality responsibly should engage in active dialogue with members of the asexual community, ensuring respectful representation through consultation and input.
Moreover, the entertainment industry needs to open its doors wider to asexual creators. Giving asexual people the platform and resources to tell their own stories authentically is a sure pathway towards richer, more diverse, and stereotype-shattering representations.
A spectrum of possibilities: Beyond romance
While the importance of portraying asexual characters in romantic contexts cannot be understated, potential stories go far beyond simply focusing on love relationships. There's a wealth of possibilities in exploring how asexuality shapes friendships, family dynamics, and workplace experiences.
Imagine a group of asexual friends navigating a world focused on romantic coupling, creating their own chosen family and rewriting the rules of support and companionship. Or a workplace comedy exploring an asexual character's journey to be taken seriously in a world where romantic connections are often seen as essential networking tools.
By delving into these non-romantic facets of life, representation broadens its reach. Such stories illustrate that asexual people have full, multifaceted lives beyond the question of romantic attraction. This goes a long way in combating the harmful perception that asexuality renders a person incomplete or isolated.
The power of positive narratives
The future of asexual representation should prioritize positive, empowering stories. While films and television shows have the space to explore the challenges faced by asexual people, it's essential to show characters who are happy, successful, and fulfilled. Prioritizing these positive narratives helps combat the stereotype of asexuality being defined by a lack of joy or satisfaction in life.
Showing asexual characters thriving in various areas of their lives offers hope and inspiration to asexual audiences. Simultaneously, it helps broaden society's view of what constitutes a complete and rewarding existence beyond traditional romantic expectations.
The future of asexual representation lies in diversity, authenticity, and collaboration. Through informed research, genuine engagement with the asexual community, and a focus on multifaceted stories, film and television have the potential to shatter stereotypes, foster understanding, and create a world where the invisible orientation, perhaps, becomes a little more visible.
