From: Christopher
In Making Masculinity, C.J. Pascoe writes about adolescence, identity, and high school. Pascoe describes how queer theory pushes for society to move past our “traditional” categories such as gay/straight, masculine/feminine, etc. Instead, we should look at how these traditional categories are established, maintained and how we can move past them.[1] Regarding masculinity, Pascoe discusses the importance of viewing the masculinizing of young boys as a process that occurs outside of the body. In other words, we need to look at how society discretely and overtly makes rules and rituals surrounding masculinity. In my project, I intended to create an image that visualized this socialisation that often occurs among young boys, specifically queer people and people who do not easily fit into the narrowly defined category of masculinity. I included an image of myself when I was younger in my photo. I am standing in a “feminine” stance and wearing a tiara in this picture. The other photo is my high school graduation picture. I look a lot more “masculine” and “straight-passing in this photo.”
For my first two creative techniques, I placed my image in the tiara towards the back of the frame ( in the shadow ). I intended this technique to depict how the feminine is devalued; when young queer boys find themselves dappling in feminine articles of clothing, toys, etc., they are often turned away and redirected towards something more masculine. The shadow was intended to represent how queer people often have to hide their femininity in the shadows of their existence. If boys decide to fight against gender norms and masculinity, these transgressions often result in that person being subject to bullying and violence. In Pascoe’s words, “People are supposed to act in a way that aligns with their presumed sex… People hold other people accountable for “doing gender” correctly.”[2] Consequently, many young boys adopt these narrow beliefs of masculinity, which I depicted in the black and white portion of the photo.
For my third technique, I used a photo editing app to make the picture of me from high school black and white while simultaneously enhancing the color of the other photo. My goal here was to depict the effects of boys trying to conform to rigid ideas of masculinity and sexuality. As Pascoe explains, many people who exist outside the gender binary and engage in gender practices that oppose their assigned sex are often subject to violence and harassment. This practice of ostracisation and bullying is often heavily present in school. Consequently, many young boys leave their queerness hidden in the shadow. This commonality of hiding queerness and feminity does not come without cost; although following gender practices may keep a person physically safe, the psyche is destroyed in the process nonetheless.
Additionally, I included another creative technique by surrounding my photo with a dark shadow, further emphasizing the two images. It also depicts how the process of masculinization occurs outside oneself, as Pascoe explains. The dark circle of black surrounding the picture gives the impression that the image is in the spotlight. Much like the image, queerness and feminine boys are often put in the spotlight by peers. Too often, feminine boys are the brunt of the joke, and in worst-case scenarios, they are subject to interpersonal violence.
Overall, my image intends to evoke the feeling that many feminine boys know all too well: the reluctant action of hiding oneself and the result of society's narrow gender roles.
Works Cited
Pascoe. (n.d.). Making masculinity - University of California Press. Retrieved March 30, 2022, from https://content.ucpress.edu/chapters/10671001.ch01.pdf
[1] Pascoe. (n.d.). Making masculinity - University of California Press. Retrieved March 30, 2022, from https://content.ucpress.edu/chapters/10671001.ch01.pdf
[2] Pascoe. (n.d.). Making masculinity - University of California Press. Retrieved March 30, 2022, from https://content.ucpress.edu/chapters/10671001.ch01.pdf
1 comment:
From: Katie
Hello Christopher. I think this photo is an excellent example of how our culture views feminine boys growing up. One aspect of your photo that I noticed was how your graduation photo was framed with very thick borders while the younger photo does not have a frame. This could be interpreted as how men are expected to stay in this narrow definition of masculinity that leaves no real room for self-expression. But the picture of you as a child has no strong borders or frames to contain him. He is allowed to play with the tiara and act in a more feminine manner, he has the freedom of playing as a kid.
Another thing that was not mentioned in your essay that I noticed was the little rainbow light over the younger photo. As you had stated in your essay, the childhood photo is brightened while the graduation photo is in grayscale. The little boy may be hidden away and shunned from the spotlight, but he still remains to be bright and proud.
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