On Othering
The term “othering” refers to the denigration of supposed “others” by a group that defines itself as an “us” in contrast to a “them”. Classic examples of othering include antisemitism, antiziganism, homophobia and misogyny, although OPPOSE OTHERING! also aims to treat other less familiar forms of focused misanthropy directed at groups.
Some thoughts on the other and othering:
“The problem of the twenty-first century is the problem of othering’.”
Naomi Klein
“It is wrong to say: I think. One ought to say: people think me.”
Arthur Rimbaud
“Each of us, helplessly and forever, contains the other… we are a part of each other.”
James Baldwin
“Other and self are inherently joined and so when we ‘speak’ of otherness, we inevitably ‘speak’ of its other: selfhood.”
Maria Beville
“If I is an other, then you are me.”
Greg de Cuir Jr.
About
Young filmmakers from Germany and Central and Eastern Europe set off together in teams of two on a journey through their respective countries. Their central objectives: to use the means of cinema to investigate misanthropic attitudes towards individuals of different social, religious, cultural, ethnic and sexual orientation/gender backgrounds or identities and to present portraits of individuals and projects that are working to promote solidarity, civil courage and resistance to discrimination. Five of the ten nominated OPPOSE OTHERING! tandems each received a production grant of 3,000 euros in the framework of the goEast award ceremony in order to realise their proposed films.
To further the aims and original mission of the project, we have created this online platform both to present the realised films and to encourage other filmmakers beyond the tandems funded officially by us to become our allies and share their related work with the wider OPPOSE OTHERING! community too. We offer screening opportunities on our website and assistance in promoting your films through our network of partner film festivals. Get involved!