4:3

A film about queer education, drag and television. 4:3 is the first work in a series that explores re-performance as a form or remembering, re-looking and re-learning, 2020 – on going.

4:3 is a film which examines Ames’ experiences of growing up queer under Section 28 in a small northern town; with nowhere to go apart from television. Section 28 instated in 1988 declared that a local authority "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" meaning that homosexuality could not be taught in mainstream education. 

4:3 is the former aspect ratio of televisions, and growing up 4:3 was Ames’ ratio, their limited square portal to a queer education. Using the few queer characters Ames sought out on telly, watched, rewatched, and studied as a child – from Willow & Tara in Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Ellen coming out to Oprah, this work explores re-performance as a form of remembering, re-looking and re-learning.

Did I fancy them or did I just want to be them? Like Lacan’s mirror stage, where children look for their likeness in things, but the mirror and stage have gone a bit bent. Through green-screen and a bad temporal dragging of these quintessentially naff, but precious moments in TV history, Ames hopes to simulate the queer imaginary spaces they created for themselves as a child.

4:3 was supported by Heart of glass and premiered at Homotopia festival 2020. Filmed and edited by Sophie Mallett.  If you are interested in screening this work or would like to discuss developing it further please get in touch.

30 second preview of 4:3 along with film stills.