Archive for the 'gender lines' Category
gender lines recovery
November 2, 2009
gender lines
April 15, 2007
From the very beginning, sex is the main aspect by which a person is assessed. This would be unproblematic if such physical distinction were not used to construct hierarchies, stereotypes and massive limitations on one’s individuality. Biological difference serves as the starting point for a complex system of gendered conceptions that rule and regulate social life. The resulting images of masculinity and femininity seem natural to us by giving the impression of immutability and invariability. In fact, virtually everything we perceive to be a sex-related trait is far from being something static or fundamental. The collective conception of the ideal man or woman has changed over the centuries, showing that gender characteristics are indeed variable, i.e. influenced and produced by society. Being feminine or masculine consequently becomes a question of one’s particular social environment. Women and men whose behaviour diverges from predetermined patterns still experience broad resentment from all social strata. Nevertheless, nobody conforms perfectly and completely to gender norms. Slight transgressions occur frequently and are for the most part tolerated, so why not bold and conscious ones?
In this project, pedestrians are confronted with the idea of identifying with a certain role, either male or female, when walking over a sprayed line on the pavement. Though the act itself is unimpressive, doing so subliminally conveys the biological aspect of belonging to a different sex with all its attendant gender characteristics. So this unspectacular line becomes the visualisation of a simple but central mindset, the dualism of a system that strictly divides into black and white: maleness on the one side, femaleness on the other and nothing in between but a sharp line. In fact, the border is not so obvious thanks to those individuals who cross it and thus blur the distinction, refusing to limit themselves to a lopsided selection of attributes.
Although the passer-by reading and crossing the spray-painted line might not be aware of the complexity of his/her action (even I am not), there is most probably some sort of thought process going on. Whatever it may effect, it does sometimes provoke a perceptible reaction: eagerness to cross the line, reluctance or even resentment, interest, exhilaration, thoughtfulness, perhaps keenness to experiment, but more often the urge to ignore. At the end of the day, it seems that crossing gender lines – even in the very simple and metaphorical form of spray-painted words – is not something that is done easily. Respect to those who do!
gender lines video
April 12, 2007
wie fühlst du dich heute?
