The Blur of Gender
living in the box — January 23, 2008 — Art & Design
References: youtube
According to Sigmund Freud, "Neurosis is the inability to tolerate ambiguity."
For most people, the state of ambiguity is an uncomfortable one, from the blurring of gender roles to gender itself. The world as we think we know it is constantly being challenged. Primetime television had three gender-bending characters in the 07 fall schedule, all transvestites, well-defined gender-bending with the ambiguity removed.
Art helps us deal with ambiguity, and takes us to a another place - an undefined place. Never was this more in evidence than in Miami during the art shows in December. At Beachside, the performance artist Donald Urquhart and his high camp "Palace of Tears" left gender irrelevant as did the charming eccentrics Eva & Adele, who call themselves "Hermaphrodites." Watch the art that is "Eva & Adele" at the opening of their own art on paper. Despite what Freud may have thought a century ago, ambiguity is much more interesting today than the certainty of a gender label.
For most people, the state of ambiguity is an uncomfortable one, from the blurring of gender roles to gender itself. The world as we think we know it is constantly being challenged. Primetime television had three gender-bending characters in the 07 fall schedule, all transvestites, well-defined gender-bending with the ambiguity removed.
Art helps us deal with ambiguity, and takes us to a another place - an undefined place. Never was this more in evidence than in Miami during the art shows in December. At Beachside, the performance artist Donald Urquhart and his high camp "Palace of Tears" left gender irrelevant as did the charming eccentrics Eva & Adele, who call themselves "Hermaphrodites." Watch the art that is "Eva & Adele" at the opening of their own art on paper. Despite what Freud may have thought a century ago, ambiguity is much more interesting today than the certainty of a gender label.
Trend Themes
1. Gender-bending Art - Opportunity for artists and galleries to personalize gender discourse in a way that engages wider audiences.
2. Ambiguity as Art - Opportunity for artists to challenge traditional concepts, create new experiences, and expand boundaries of perception through ambiguity and uncertainty.
3. Genderless Identity - Opportunity for designers and fashion brands to create genderless products and clothing that adapt to the individual rather than enforcing singular gender norms.
Industry Implications
1. Art - Artists and galleries can create works that challenge gender norms and create conversation around identity and perception.
2. Fashion - Fashion brands can embrace androgyny and develop genderless products that appeal to a wider, more inclusive audience.
3. Entertainment - Film and television producers can continue to explore and normalize gender-bending themes, opening up new avenues for storytelling and character development.
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