Appropriate Feminisms: Ambivalence and Citational Practice in <i>Appropriate Behavior</i>

Abstract Across her body of work in film, television, and digital media, Desiree Akhavan has captured the awkward politics cultural production for female filmmakers media-makers. Yet she also refused to straightforwardly align with feminist critiques dominant practices, however much is interpellated by them. Akhavan, a queer woman color racist, sexist, homophobic industry, negotiates both contemporary feminism's potentials solidarity its intersectional shortcomings. Akhavan's autobiographical characters wrestle need social justice while questioning “appropriate behaviors” demanded serious commitments cause. Her reveals ambivalence attachments. This article reads work, particular focus on debut feature Appropriate Behavior (UK/US, 2014), through lens citational practice. The author argues that employs codes function Clare Hemmings's words as “storytelling tactic,” sustaining normative narratives about recent past. By employing an ambivalent trope calls citation→disavowal, troubles cultures excluded from viability legibility place within movements resist