Art-House America: Doris Duke Theatre

For our latest installment of ART-HOUSE AMERICA on the Criterion Channel, get to know the Doris Duke Theatre, located in the heart of Honolulu, Hawaii at @honolulumuseum, and then enjoy a program of innovative Hawaiian films that offer a journey to parts of the archipelago that tourists rarely see. From programmer Taylour Chang: “Tourism and Hollywood have shaped the perception of Hawai‘i as a paradise destination since the early twentieth century. A rising tide of Native Hawaiian and Hawai‘i-based filmmakers challenge those colonial stereotypes and present a worldview of Hawai‘i that is rooted in the land and its people. This slate is a snapshot of a genealogy of filmmakers who express Hawai‘i’s spirit and resilience. Pioneers like Victoria Keith (THE SAND ISLAND STORY) and Nā Maka o ka ‘Āina (MAUNA KEA: TEMPLE UNDER SIEGE) captured an awakening of Native Hawaiian political consciousness and set a foundation for current generations-from Ty Sanga (STONES), who inspired a wave of Native Hawaiian filmmakers to embrace narrative fiction, to talents like Ciara Lacy (OUT OF STATE). These storytellers, among many others, provoke an innovative understanding of a Hawai‘i-specific visual language.”

[@jj9152]

This and the closet videos are my all time fave series on RUclips. I never click faster on videos then I do with these, (and possibly Amoebas WIMB vids).

[@dustanjhlady]

You took the words right outta my chomper.

[@flannerymonaghan-morris7461]

Love this, but I hope this series continues.

[@wafaminhas6961]

What an amazing curator, I know for a fact she doesn’t get paid enough for the amount of effort she’s putting in

[@KaliMaaaaa]

Does not represent indigenous Hawaiians at all, this "curator" will go
far in her corporate career. Nothing like focusing on every
issue/people instead of the ones specific to the geography. Zero talk about art but plenty of the usual meaningless identity politics word salad. Truly disgraceful.

[@j.r.s8737]

I think that's an unfair assessment based on this short trailer here. No doubt Hawaii was taken from the Kanaka maoli unjustly, but it doesn't change the fact that Hawaii today is composed of and shaped by the many different communities that now reside on the islands. There's no reason why you can't have a focus on indigenous Hawaiian audience and issues while also connecting to other communities as well. Also it's not very "corporate" in the sense that small arthouse theatres like these are very much not raking in profits, and are often funded by donations and what few ticket sales they can get from the community.