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Azza Cohen

@azzacohen.bsky.social
327 followers 23 following 14 posts

Filmmaker & Writer. Former Official Videographer to VP Kamala Harris. Contributing Writer, The Contrarian. DM me when you see visual sexism and use #splitscreen to join the movement to end it.

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Reposted by Azza Cohen
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 24/04/2025
Keep your eyes sharp and your lenses sharper: @azzacohen.bsky.social’s latest #splitscreen dives into the visual coverage of Sarah Palin
contrarian.substack.com
Split Screen: The politics of Sarah Palin photos
After she was named John McCain's running mate, the focus was on her clothes and body, not her policies.
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Reposted by Azza Cohen
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 08/05/2025
AOC doesn’t wait for legacy media to frame her with dignity—she does it herself. From eye-level photos to livestreams on policy in her kitchen, she’s reclaiming the frame and redefining what leadership looks like. @azzacohen.bsky.social explains
contrarian.substack.com
Split Screen: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reclaims the frame
The New York congresswoman doesn't let others define her.
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Azza Cohen @azzacohen.bsky.social · 20/04/2025
My latest #splitscreen column for @contrariannews.org investigated the way the media framed the late great Rep. Shirley Chisholm. Spoiler: lots of visual sexism.
contrarian.substack.com
Split Screen: Shirley Chisholm, cropped out of history
Photography can shape public perception of candidates. Continually showing a woman candidate alone makes it look as if she doesn't have support.
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Reposted by Azza Cohen
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 11/04/2025
In 1972, Shirley Chisholm made history as the first black woman to run for a major party's presidential nomination. But the camera told a different story. @azzacohen.bsky.social unpacks how visual framing still shapes who we see as a leader.
open.substack.com
Split Screen: Shirley Chisholm, cropped out of history
Photography can shape public perception of candidates. Continually showing a woman candidate alone makes it look as if she doesn't have support.
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Reposted by Azza Cohen
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 12/04/2025
Patterns of visual sexism in the images we are shown can shape how we perceive candidates. @azzacohen.bsky.social examines the candidacy of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to run for a major party's presidential nomination
open.substack.com
Split Screen: Shirley Chisholm, cropped out of history
Photography can shape public perception of candidates. Continually showing a woman candidate alone makes it look as if s
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Azza Cohen @azzacohen.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
ICYMI: my first post of #splitscreen for @contrariannews.org. When you see visual sexism -- images of women in power that undermine their authority -- DM me with your ideas for the column.
contrarian.substack.com
Welcome to Split Screen
In my regular column, I'll look at the ways images shape perception.
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Reposted by Azza Cohen
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 31/03/2025
From Trump’s power optics to Biden’s eye-level respect, the camera doesn’t lie. @azzacohen.bsky.social explores the visual politics of presidential military moments.
contrarian.substack.com
Split Screen: The Visual Politics of Presidential Military Moments
The camera doesn't lie, even when the words might.
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Azza Cohen @azzacohen.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
Thank you @policommethics.bsky.social !
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Reposted by Azza Cohen
Erin Reed @erininthemorning.com · 30/03/2025
Really hard to beat the Grand Tetons from the sky. Protect our public lands 💜
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Azza Cohen @azzacohen.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
In my 1st piece for @contrariannews.org, I wrote of an old boss and his toxic sexism. I was nervous to publish even 8 yrs later. A former colleague reached out privately to say it resonated and gave her courage. I cannot tell you how much it meant to me. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. TELL YOUR STORY.
contrarian.substack.com
Welcome to Split Screen
In my regular column, I'll look at the ways images shape perception.
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Reposted by Azza Cohen
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 28/03/2025
"The way we frame powerful women visually reflects and reinforces how we see them in the real world, outside the camera’s frame" In her latest piece, @azzacohen.bsky.social explains how the way we capture people in photographs, and women specifically, mirrors social biases
open.substack.com
Split Screen: Kamala Harris at the Munich Security Conference, The New Yorker
Seemingly neutral choices add up to a larger narrative about powerful women.
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Reposted by Azza Cohen
David Darmofal @daviddarmofal.bsky.social · 29/03/2025
A really smart article by @azzacohen.bsky.social on how a photo choice about a powerful woman, Kamala Harris, was used to frame an article about her. contrarian.substack.com/p/split-scre...
contrarian.substack.com
Split Screen: Kamala Harris at the Munich Security Conference, The New Yorker
Seemingly neutral choices add up to a larger narrative about powerful women.
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Reposted by Azza Cohen
Nancy @plaintanjane.bsky.social · 30/03/2025
“The image seems fine at first glance. Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, captured mid-sentence by Reuters photographer Kai Pfaffenbach. The New Yorker used this photograph to accompany Peter…” @azzacohen.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/contrari...
open.substack.com
Split Screen: Kamala Harris at the Munich Security Conference, The New Yorker
Seemingly neutral choices add up to a larger narrative about powerful women.
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Azza Cohen @azzacohen.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
My latest SPLIT SCREEN column for @contrariannews.org examines a @newyorker.com image. Don't get me wrong -- I love TNY, they literally bought my first film -- but we must call in news orgs to do better framing powerful women. Lmk what you think! Edited as ever by brilliant @jamieriley.bsky.social
contrarian.substack.com
Split Screen: Kamala Harris at the Munich Security Conference, The New Yorker
Seemingly neutral choices add up to a larger narrative about powerful women.
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Azza Cohen @azzacohen.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
Friends in Boston/Cambridge -- come to my seminar series at @harvardkennedy.bsky.social Institute of Politics! We'll talk cameras, women, and politics. Link to register below for Harvard folks #splitscreen iop.harvard.edu/events/split...
A poster for Split Screen my forthcoming seminar at Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics. A white woman looks at the camera wearing a grey suit and white shirt with brown hair. The text appears in black and white over a purple background.
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Azza Cohen @azzacohen.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
I still can't believe I get to write for @contrariannews.org !! Thank you @33domenica.bsky.social and @normeisen.bsky.social for badass leadership and @jamieriley.bsky.social for brilliant editing.
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Azza Cohen @azzacohen.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
appreciate you Anne-Lie -- it's so true that it shapes our opportunities, so we better do a better job shaping our images 🎥
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Reposted by Azza Cohen
C. Lou~ @cyndilou.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
Credit due: bsky.app/profile/azza...
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Reposted by Azza Cohen
Anne-Lie Lokko @lokkomotion.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
How we portray women in public life shapes their opportunities. Journalist and filmmaker Azza Cohen will explore this in her new column, examining cases of visual sexism every other week—an important perspective for anyone who wants a fairer future.
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Azza Cohen @azzacohen.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
My first column for @contrariannews.org is out today, edited by the brilliant @jamieriley.bsky.social. SPLIT SCREEN will investigate images of women in power from a cinematographer's perspective. Together, we can uncover and address visual sexism. contrarian.substack.com/p/welcome-to...
contrarian.substack.com
Welcome to Split Screen
In my regular column, I'll look at the ways images shape perception.
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