Analyzing Shirley Jackon's film, Portrait of Jason

1. Portrait of Jason:
Connecting Race, Sex,
and Performance
Abigail Guidry
This presentation was created for my
own benefit, to organize my ideas
and pose questions

2. ● Portrait of Jason explores
the performance aspects
of personal identity,
suggesting that identity
itself is performance.
● Identity is at odds with
what others perceive us
to be.
Main Claim

3. A Few Definitions
● Performance
○ Just that. Performance can be on stage or an act of code switching,
or any other act that alters the way we behave or present ourselves
to others.
● Sexual Orientation
○ A person’s preference for sexual or romantic partners based on sex
and/or gender.
● Hustler
○ Prostitute, errand boy, performer, etc.

4. Aspects of Identity
● Race, nationality, and culture
● Sex/gender and sexual orientation
● Class
● Level and type of education
● Relation to others
○ Family
○ Friends
● Occupation and interests
● Location in time and space
● Physical and mental health
● Religion
● Literally anything else

5. No one aspect can be
removed

6. A Little About Jason Holliday
● Black
● Gay
● Hustler
● Performer
● Created in San Francisco

7. Race
I think as a house boy I really suffered. But this hasn’t all been a
waste. They think you’re just a dumb, stupid little colored boy. You’re
trying to get a few dollars and they’re gonna use you as a joke. It
gets to be a joke sometimes as to who’s using who.
● Stories on racial prejudice
○ Does he seem bothered by these stories?

8. Sex/Gender and Sexual Orientation
I’ve spent so much of my life being sexy that I haven’t gotten
anything else done. I’ve been balling from Maine to Mexico. I haven’t
a dime to show for it, but I had a swell time.
● Identification with women in movies
● Taking on men as partners
● Being hired by women

9. Hustling
I’ve been told — and I do believe it — that I have a lot of talent. It’s nice in the
kitchen, and it’s nice in the bedroom, and it’s nice in the living room, and it’s
nice at the end of the day to walk away with a few coins you had fun earning.
My motto is, “Find out what you need to get through a day, make some
provisions for getting it, and don’t bug anybody.” You can go a long way on
that.
● Often involves some kind of lying or performance

10. Creationism in San Fran
● Born Aaron Payne
● Created in San Francisco
● Who is Aaron Payne? Who is Jason Holliday?
● Creation suggests performance
○ What aspects of Jason were changed in San Fran?

11. Performing
I thought I’d end up as a clown. All clowns are happy and sad. You can sell sex,
comedy and a little tragedy — people love to see you suffer, and believe me, I’ve
suffered.
● Nothing he says seems to not be for the camera
● What does he say off-screen?

12. Alcohol and Other Crap
● Alcohol lowers our inhibitions--but what are his?
○ As he gets drunker, does he tell more or less of the truth?
○ Does alcohol lower his level of censorship?
● Untrustworthiness of the drunk
● Filmakers’ aggression
○ Is Jason forced to perform differently?

13. Those Moments of Uncertainty
● Segments of the film where the picture is hazy or all
black
● What parts of Jason are all performance?
● What parts are really him, and what parts are just our perception?
○ How can we ever know?
● Can any portrait capture a person’s identity?
Tennessee Williams couldn’t have done me any
more justice. This is my moment. I’m here on the
throne and I can say whatever I damn please. But
it’s got to be righteous, you know? This is my
chance to really feel myself. To say, yeah, I’m the
bitch. Believe it, you know? You amateur cunts
take notice: I’m the bitch.

14. So, what the hell is this film?
● Monologue
● Portrait
● Story-telling
● Self-expression
○ For Shirley Jackson
○ For Jason Holliday

15. Closing Remarks
● Jason Holliday’s performance makes him who he is
● Do we really know him at all?