#Seeking Mavis Beacon

[moviemosaics]

Seeking Mavis Beacon

directed by Jazmin Jones, 2024

[rickchung]

Seeking Mavis Beacon (dir. Jazmin Jones) x DOXA 2024. (via The Independent)

Two women investigate the disappearance of the iconic real-life model behind the popular 1980s educational software while raising pertinent issues concerning our relationship to technology. Jones and her friend, Carribean-American video artist Olivia McKayla Ross, create their own portrait of their image of "Mavis Beacon" while blending the facts they uncover with their own fictional interpretations. Their exercise feels like an experimental detour interrogating our cultural fascinations (like true crime or conspiratorial fare) as they figure out who Renee L’Esperance, a Haitian immigrant model, perfume saleswoman, and the face behind Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, really is and why she vanished from public life entirely.

Screening as part of the 2024 DOXA Documentary Film Festival at The Cinematheque on May 12.

[criticarter]

Films Watched in 2025 - (7/???)

Seeking Mavis Beacon (2024) Jazmin Jones – (3/5)

While it meanders a bit here and there and can be visually busy at times (even putting aside the Windows XP background on a Mac OS layout), I'm not going to sit here and claim I could have made anything better at that age (or even now), particularly lacking the seemingly endless funds for certain elements of the tale.

[thejewofkansas]

The Weekly Gravy #230

From Vurchel, where you can watch Make Me a Pizza for yourself. Make Me a Pizza (2024) – ***½ You know the set-up: a hungry woman orders a pizza. A strapping man delivers it. She doesn’t have any cash and suggests…alternative forms of payment. He protests, citing the value theory of labor. Yes, this short by Talia Shea Levin is a spin on the archetypal porno premise (has any porno actually���

[oldfilmsflicker]

new-to-me #65 - Seeking Mavis Beacon

[themnmovieman]

Movie Review ~ Seeking Mavis Beacon

Seeking Mavis Beacon Synopsis: Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing was educational software that taught millions globally, but the program’s Haitian-born cover model vanished decades ago. Two DIY investigators search for the unsung cultural icon, while questioning notions of digital security, AI, and Black representation in the digital realmStars: Jazmin Jones, Olivia McKayla RossDirector: Jazmin…

[feeldirt]

Ugh seeking Mavis beacon is soooo good like the art of having zero digital footprint and wanting to be unknown… like wow Rene aka Mavis did NOT want to be found… also I’ve always knew Al and technically is racist but DAMN it’s like a reflection of society and of course the whole world is racist.

[jmunneytumbler]

Does 'Seeking Mavis Beacon' Bring a Digital Icon Back to Her Home Keys?

Does 'Seeking Mavis Beacon' Bring a Digital Icon Back to Her Home Keys?

ASDF ;LKJ (CREDIT: NEON) Starring: Not Mavis Beacon Director: Jazmin Renée Jones Running Time: 102 Minutes Rating: Unrated Release Date: August 30, 2024 (IFC Center in New York City)/September 6, 2024 (Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago)/September 13, 2024 (Additional Cities) What’s It About?: In a case of “Only 90s Kids Can Understand,” Seeking Mavis Beacon doggedly attempts to uncover the…

[indigozeal]

There's a Mavis Beacon documentary: Seeking Mavis Beacon. Its website is pretty great. Sadly predictable news from the Slant review: "The model for Mavis is a very real Haitian immigrant named Renée L’Espérance, who was paid $500 for her likeness before falling off the grid."

[anissapierce]

The doc mentions aunt jemima in the beginning but then the ppl in the doc treat it like henrietta lacks situation. Like yes there's things wrong here and itd be great if those got adressed

Trying to meet the mavis beacon doc where its at but im getting annoyed in a similar way i am w certain youtubers with do called deep dives or 'analysis'

[skateebrat]

Blog Post Due 3/20

In what ways was Mavis Beacon a positive representation? 

When the software had launched in the 80’s, there were only a handful of Black women working in computing and education. So when Mavis was created, she essentially challenged the stereotype by representing a professional, knowledgeable, reliable figure for millions of people. Also not to mention her cultural impact, despite being just a fictional character, millions of people grew to love and admire her- on top of the software that has helped many students and adults of all backgrounds how to use typing technology. I never learned about Mavis Beacon as a kid or teen, so learning about her now is really inspiring. 

How was Mavis Beacon created? 

Mavis Beacon was created by multiple people; Alan Miller and Walt Bilofsky. These were the actual creators of the software, but I’m not sure which two people went out and saw Renee L’esperance. Originally, Renee was offered $500 to model for this program. Then Mavis Beacon grew into an international staple for typing programs profiting millions of dollars. Do I think it’s kind of weird that Renee didn’t end up getting her share even if she wanted to be private? Yes. The documentary/series we watched in class of how the girl was trying to find Mavis and the creators were basically gatekeeping where/who she was. It was all kind of suspicious. 

Can white supremacy be ‘destabilized’ on the internet? 

Asking this question I’m still figuring out what it means. It really depends on how the algorithm is built. There are people who are exposed to plenty of white supremacy type of content but there are a handful who don’t see much at all. That doesn’t mean content like that is not going around. But how can we stop engaging with content or even creators that are spewing out misinformation? This is a big topic and there are multiple strategies taht we can apply. First off, spreading and advocating the correct education material, amplifying voices from other communities, and encouraging open discussion and debate to prevent echo chamber ideas and solidifying white supremacy beliefs. 

How is cyber stalking being more normalized? 

I believe that cyber stalking is being normalized internally because of how accessible we are to social platforms and other people. We think were so ‘close’ to one another through posts/videos/interacting surface level, without really knowing them. We have talked about this before how ‘it’s the damn phone’. And to this extent it is true. Whether you are chronically online or not, it is so easy to find someone or something. I know there are girl friends out there who can act like the FBI sometimes. All you need is their name and maybe a lastname, next thing you know- they have a whole list of their moms name, their dogs name, what they were doing in the last year. It can be overwhelming sometimes.. But it is so normalized because of how disconnected we are in real life.

Citron, D. K. (2014). Hate crimes in cyberspace. Harvard University Press.

Daniels, J. (2025). White Supremacist Social Movements Online and In a Global Context. In Social Movements in the Information Age (Chapter 4). 

Jones, J. (2024). Seeking Mavis Beacon: A documentary on exploitation and racial representation in technology. [Film].

[kristynguyen7]

Blog Post #7 - Week 10 (due 3/20) 

Race, Technology, and Online Abuse 

How does Seeking Mavis Beacon explore the intersection of race, exploitation, and technology in the context of Mavis Beacon’s story, and what does this reveal about systemic inequality in the tech industry? 

Seeking Mavis Beacon uncovers how Mavis Beacon’s image was exploited without her consent or compensation, reflecting broader systemic inequality in the tech industry. The documentary reveals that the game’s creator used her likeness to sell a widely successful product while denying her recognition or profits, highlighting the industry’s exploitative practices, especially toward women of color. As the film states, “Mavis was told it would be a photoshoot, not knowing her likeness would be used in a highly profitable game for years” (Jones, 2024). This raises questions about how marginalized groups are often erased or undervalued in spaces where they could otherwise thrive. The documentary emphasizes the ongoing racial and gender disparities within the tech world. 

How does the internet’s accessibility and reliability, as described by Elin, contribute to both positive civic engagement and the spread of radical ideologies? 

Elin highlights the internet’s positive role in fostering communication and networking, describing it as “cheap, fast, and dependable” (Elin, page 13). This accessibility makes it an essential tool for civic engagement, enabling marginalized groups and activists to organize and advocate for social change. However, the same qualities that make the internet beneficial also facilitate the spread of radical ideologies, allowing fringe groups to connect and amplify their messages. This duality underscores the internet’s power to both unite communities for positive change and serve as a breeding ground for extremism. 

How has the internet transformed white supremacist social movements from localized efforts to global networks, and what implications does this shift have for combating hate-based ideologies? 

The internet has enabled white supremacist movements to transcend national boundaries and evolve into global networks. Daniels (2025) emphasizes that “the Internet facilitates the formation of a transnational, explicitly racist white identity” (p. 43). This transformation allows disparate groups to unify under shared ideologies, amplifying their influence. The global nature of these movements complicates efforts to counter hate, as tactics effective in one region may not apply universally. Addressing this challenge requires international collaboration, online monitoring, and community resilience to combat the global spread of supremacist ideologies. 

How did Twitter’s response to Leslie Jones’s online abuse highlight the platform’s shortcomings in handling hate speech, and what does this incident reveal about the challenges of moderating harmful content on social media? 

Twitter’s response to Leslie Jones’s online abuse revealed the platform’s inadequacies in addressing hate speech. Despite acknowledging the severity of the harassment and taking action against some accounts, Twitter admitted to falling short of effectively preventing and managing such behavior. As Twitter stated, “We know many people believe we have not done enough to curb this type of behavior on Twitter. We agree” (Silman, 2016). This incident underscored the challenges of moderating harmful content, as abusive tweets continued despite enforcement efforts. Jones’s experience demonstrated the gap between policy intentions and practical enforcement, raising questions about the efficacy of social media regulations in curbing targeted harassment. 

How does Danielle Keats Citron differentiate between traditional stalking and cyber harassment, and what impact does the anonymity of the internet have on these behaviors? 

Citron (2014) explains that while traditional stalking involves offline behaviors such as vandalism or physical assault, cyber harassment “involves threats of violence, privacy invasions, reputation-harming lies, calls for strangers to physically harm victims, and technological attacks” (p. 3). The internet exacerbates the impact by extending the lifespan of abusive content, as posts can be indexed and retrieved long after they are first published, causing enduring harm. The anonymity of the internet amplifies these behaviors, as perpetrators can act without fear of identification or direct consequences, making it easier to target victims repeatedly. 

Word Count: 488 

Citron, D. K. (2014). Hate crimes in cyberspace. Harvard University Press.

Daniels, J. (2025). White Supremacist Social Movements Online and In a Global Context. In Social Movements in the Information Age (Chapter 4). 

Elin, L. (2025). The Radicalization of Zeke Spier: How the internet contributes to civic engagement and new forms of social capital. Journal of Digital Sociology. 

Jones, J. (2024). Seeking Mavis Beacon: A documentary on exploitation and racial representation in technology. [Film].

Silman, A. (2016). A timeline of Leslie Jones's horrific online abuse.

[ethanswgstblog]

Blog Post #7

What role does community play in Spier’s transformation?

Community plays a crucial role in Zeke Spier’s transformation by providing both support and a framework for action. As he becomes more involved in activism, the people around him reinforce his beliefs and help him channel his frustrations into organized resistance. The author notes that "Spier found solidarity among activists who shared his convictions, offering him both emotional reassurance and tactical knowledge" (Elin). This suggests that radicalization is not an isolated journey but one deeply embedded in collective struggle, where individuals draw strength from their peers to challenge existing power structures.

For the software mavis beacon, do you think it was ethical for the software developers to take pictures of the woman and put them later for much time

I believe it was unethical for the developers of Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing to use the woman’s image for so long without ensuring her continued consent. While she may have initially agreed to the photoshoot, she likely didn’t anticipate her likeness being used for decades. If she wasn’t fairly compensated or given the option to revoke permission, that raises serious ethical concerns about exploitation and informed consent.

From my perspective, people should have control over how their image is used, especially in commercial products. If the software developers had been more transparent and allowed her to renegotiate her involvement, it would have been a much fairer situation. This case makes me think about how digital rights and image usage should be handled more ethically in today’s world.

How does the internet contribute to the globalization of white supremacist movements

The internet plays a crucial role in the globalization of white supremacist movements by allowing individuals across different countries to connect, share ideologies, and organize. Unlike previous eras, where white supremacist movements were often confined to specific regions, the digital age has facilitated a transnational network of extremists. The text highlights this by noting that "Stormfront’s tagline from the beginning has been ‘white pride worldwide,’ a motto that speaks to the global vision of the site’s creators as well as to the current reach of the site" (Daniels, p. 41). This demonstrates how online platforms serve as hubs for uniting white supremacists beyond national borders, strengthening their collective identity and influence. As a result, these digital spaces not only spread racist ideologies but also provide tools for recruitment, organization, and mobilization, making white supremacy an increasingly globalized phenomenon.

In what ways does the framing of white supremacy as a response to globalization limit our understanding of its impact on society?

Framing white supremacy primarily as a response to globalization rather than as a racial ideology limits our understanding of its deeper societal impact. By emphasizing economic anxieties and cultural displacement, such interpretations risk downplaying the role of systemic racism and historical white privilege. The reading critiques Castells’s analysis, stating that he "mistakenly takes the patriot movement as the ideal type for all other white supremacist organizations" and in doing so, "misses the extent to which the Internet figures in the formation of a global white identity that transcends local and regional ties" (Daniels, p. 45). This suggests that reducing white supremacy to a reaction against globalization ignores its roots in deeply ingrained racial hierarchies. Understanding white supremacy as a structured and historically persistent racial ideology allows for a more comprehensive analysis of its continued presence in society and the ways it adapts in the digital age.

Elin, L. (n.d.-b). The Radicalization of Zeke Spier. Cyberactivism: Online Activism in Theory and Practice. 

Seeking Mavis Beacon Documentary

White Supremacist Social Movement Online And In A Global Context by J. Daniels

[emxly-elxzabeth]

Week 8 Blog #6-

Does a Cyborg try to make up for their lack of origin stories through us? 

In the reading of Cyborg Manifesto by Donna Haraway, we learn how cyborgs are “machine like” along with a hybrid of our own reality. Haraway addresses this as, “machines have made thoroughly ambiguous the difference between natural and artificial, mind and body, Self-developing and extremely designed , and many other distinctions that used to apply to  organisms and machines. Our machines are disturbingly lively, and we ourselves are frighteningly inert"(Haraway 2018). We can compare this to last week's Black Mirror’s episode where everyone is a cyborg trying to fit into the merit system. This concept has me inquiring about do cyborgs not have an initial background. We talked about this inside class, however, we subconsciously implanted reality into these cyborgs. 

Will Visual cyberculture inspire our society in a negative way? (K O'riordan)

In Gender, technology, and visual cyber cultural Virtually Women by Kate O’Riodan we see, a fake woman “the most celebrated virtual persona to date…as the “cyberbabe”(O’Riordan 2000). The concept about how men view women can be interpreted in our everyday lives. The reading also goes on to say, “the female face is thus the future present of the convergence of cybercultural forms such as mobile telephony, computer games, hand held devices, and the internet” (O’Riordan 2000). Our society must err on the side of caution moving forward about how we represent women in the digital world.

Do we socially view all women as maternal figures?

In the documentary we discussed and talked about in class, Seeking Mavis Beacon, we see two young women trying to find a real life woman whose identity has been essentially stolen and used for AI marketing. However one of the most curious parts is how they materialize Mavis. We see her showing off features while talking to kids, teaching them. Most of our childhood teachers are women. They even had a photoshoot with her walking a little boy. For the marketing standpoint, the likeableness and stereotype of a woman is to be forced to be maternal. 

Does AI take away identities and perhaps genders for money?

Talking more into Seeking Mavis Beacon, it was quite alarming to know that the real person that the character was based off of was Renee L’Epernace. She was a Haitian immigrant working at a perfume store when she was approached by one of the creators of a new software. They offered her only $500 to do a photoshoot and that was it, however they used AI to market off her face for future ideas revolving around the software. While the creators were making millions off their new and booming business software. They would use AI features to “soften” her face and hands to resemble Renee. They didn’t even ask permission or allow her the right to forget. This is what we learn in class, they can not be removed from the project essentially. It’s so crazy to me they basically stole Renee’s identity and reprogrammed her to someone she isn’t. You saw her face but you didn’t see her because it was just a fake persona. 

Donna Jeanne Haraway. (2018). Cyborg manifesto. Camas Books. (Original work published 1985)

O’Riordan, K. (n.d.). Gender, technology, and visual cyber cultural Virtually Women [Review of Gender, technology, and visual cyber cultural Virtually Women]. (Original work published 2000)

Jones, J. Olivia McKayla Ross. (2024). Seeking Mavis Davis [Review of Seeking Mavis Davis]. In G. Feiln (Ed.), Neon.

[jennyurquizasblog]

Blog Post #6

What is a cyborg, and how does it affect dualism?

A cyborg is a hybrid organism mixing reality and fiction, like a haf-human half-machine design. In Haraway's reading, they talk about how the cyborg can relate to dualism. Some examples are male/female or mind/body. But they do mention how the cyborg doesn't have an exact half or an exact place that separates human and machine. They mention how the cyborg can show potential for alternative identities by bringing a better understanding of gender and race. It also lessens the idea of dualism since there is no middle ground between them. (Haraway 354-359)

Why did Renee Le Espereance choose a life of privacy after her image was used in a game?

The short film Seeking Mavis Beacon talks about how Mavis Beacon came to life. Mavis is said not to be real, but her image is based on a real person, Renee Le Esperance. The creators of Mavis Beacon said that they had found Renee when she was advertising a product, and they had found her very beautiful and wanted her to be the model of a photoshoot, and they paid her 500 dollars for the shoot. They didn't tell her that her image would be used as the primary teacher for Mavis Beacon, a typing learning system. It may have been her face, but it wasn't her voice or hands on the screen. The creators may have wanted it to be more inclusive, but in the end, it wasn't. They had used a voice that was fluent in English, but she wasn't. Since she was a Haitian immigrant, she would have had an accent. Riordan's article talks about how women in online games and systems are created for the male gaze, like how Mavis was created with a more pleasing voice for its users. The system earned the creators millions, but Renee only got 500. Renee had not given her consent for them to use her image in the game and wanted it to be taken down so she could be forgotten. Ultimately, she just wanted to live a private life, so her son said she did not want to be found at the film's end. (Silver et al. 243-254)

How have specific topics been discussed within the women 's-only forum in white supremacy sites?

Within the white supremacy community, they have a separate section for women to have their voice, but the male voices still suppress it. Daniel's reading talked about how when explaining why they chose their names, the creator would comment on the men's posts, but when the women would post, they wouldn't get acknowledged as much. So their voices would be suppressed, which is why they have their women's only section, but the topics they have in their forum have been taken differently. In one post, they started talking about abortion; some were saying it is murder, and others were saying it is a woman's choice. So, even if they are white supremacists, some are still standing on the side of feminists. Some even mention taking their boss's parking spot. Some have even embraced the liberal feminist viewpoints since they do not want to feel powerless in their community. (Daniels 61-90)

What is the problem with how females are represented in games and videos?

Women have been misrepresented in games and videos for so long. In O'Riordan's reading they talk a lot about how female characters in games are created to look very sexual and put in clothes that are very uncomfortable for what they are to do. For example, characters in GTA are in very revealing clothing to the point that they are barely wearing clothes. Clothes are even very tight-fitting, so if they were to be made in real life, they wouldn't be able to move realistically. (Silver et al. 243-254)

Daniels, Jessie. “Gender, White Supremacy, and the Internet.” Cyber Racism: White Supremacy Online and the New Attack on Civil Rights, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Lanham, Md, 2009, pp. 61–90.

Jones, Jazmin, and Olivia McKayla Ross. Seeking Mavis Beacon, Neon, 2024.

Haraway, Donna Jeanne. “A Cyborg Manifesto: Science, Technology, and Socialist-Feminism in the Late Twentieth Century.” Cyborg Manifesto, Camas Books, Victoria, British Columbia, 2018, pp. 354–359.

Silver, David, et al. “Gender, Technology, and Visual Cyberculture Virtually Women.” Critical Cyberculture Studies, NYU Press, New York, 2006, pp. 243–254. 

[archiveofmyass]

Seeking Mavis Beacon (2024) / January 2024