She Blooms Under the Moon: The Aging Woman in First Person Feminist Documentary

Abstract

This project examines the lived experiences of aging women through a first-person feminist documentary, She Blooms Under the Moon (月有阴晴圆缺), capturing the missing representation of aging women in East Asian mainstream media. Drawing on Sara Ahmed's concept of "willfulness," this project embodies a research-creation approach to explore the reflexive engagement of a daughter documenting her mother's journey through menopause, trying to renegotiate the traditional family relationship. By blending personal narrative with feminist theory, the documentary challenges traditional portrayals of aging women and mother-daughter kinship. Moreover, it highlights the transformative power of reflexivity in feminist practice, urging the significance of aging women's visibility and agency within cultural narratives.