JoAnn Elam

JoAnn Elam (April 20, 1949 – June 25, 2009) was a Chicago-based experimental independent filmmaker. Her films explored socio-political topics, from feminism to working-class struggles. During the 1970s and '80's, Elam became a central figure in the experimental film scene of Chicago. She is best known for the films Rape (1975) and Lie Back and Enjoy It (1982), which can be accredited in part to their continuous distribution from Canyon Cinema. Other notable works include documentaries and short films, such as the unfinished Everyday People (1979–1990). The majority of her work was filmed on small gauge, home movie formats (8mm and Super 8mm), which she has advocated as political decision because it not only increased intimacy with subjects but was more affordable and accessible, and appropriate for small-scale viewing. In her own words, "Small gauge is not larger than life, it's part of life." While living in San Francisco, California, and Yellow Springs, Ohio, where she attended Antioch College, Elam had completed several documentary films on what she called "everyday life". These films and her other films were produced on 16mm and 8mm films, but mainly 8mm. Elam's films Rape and Everyday People have been subjects of great interest. Rape gave women a platform to articulate and express anger about their experiences with sexual assault, and they are portrayed without the typical diffusion through "titillation or pathos". Everyday People has been of interest to art and film communities because of its incomplete state and the insight into the postal service, where she worked as a letter carrier.