judy, i think, as a painter, the gender crisis has a lot to do with the fact
that we humans - and not the other animals - have our senses -
particularly the visual - paralized by language and symbols.
the child has everything to develop his senses, but socialization makes
him stop seeing the pure plastic shapes of boys and girls and start
seeing symbols, stop feeling his body and genitals and start associating
them with symbols.
this is not the whole question, there's also the question of male power
and dominance, but i think literature and the visual arts should go hand
in hand in exploring sexuality.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Judy Prince" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2009 1:47 PM
Subject: Re: Last Post Laureate
> Max, I was struck the same way as your friend---remarkable when you
> consider
> I've never been to a men's changing room. ;-) [public toilets another
> matter; shorter queues, so to speak]
> Females' crises of sexual and gender identity are no less 'tragic' than
> males'. However, I've never read any [fe]male account which touched the
> heart of embarrassment, shutting down, fragile emotions, and crushed
> prospects as yours does.
>
> When folks say that they youthly felt and still feel 'different' and
> inferior to others---a universal reaction, it seems---I wonder if it
> doesn't
> start there. And for males, given that 'performance art' applies more
> directly to them than females, I should imagine that Hitlers, Osama bin
> Ladens, p'raps even Henry VIIIs don't surprise us.
>
> Best,
>
> Judy
>
> 2009/8/2 Max Richards <[log in to unmask]>
>
>> Ah well, Judy...
>>
>> I showed that 1949 changing room to a young ie 41 friend, and he said
>> Nothing's
>> changed, take the date off it, it's still contemporary.
>> This surprised me somehow.
>>
>> best from max
>>
>> Quoting Judy Prince <[log in to unmask]>:
>>
>> > Thanks, Max, that's lovely to hear, but it was a two-topic frustrate
>> > sandwich, the sell-by date now passed. I have enuff self-assigned
>> writing
>> > to busy me 'til death do translate me to other tasks. [which does
>> > *not*
>> > mean I wouldnae like a ticket to the Changing Room you so attractively
>> > poetised !]
>> >
>> > Best,
>> >
>> > Judy
>> >
>> > 2009/8/1 Max Richards <[log in to unmask]>
>> >
>> > > Judy,
>> > >
>> > > You yourself have already drafted the makings of THE article on this
>> topic.
>> > > Go for it.
>> > >
>> > > best from Max
>> > >
>> > > Quoting Judy Prince <[log in to unmask]>:
>> > >
>> > > > You've put your finger on something, David: "It's social realism
>> without
>> > > > real anger."
>> > > > Phony is what it is. It's not just C Duff, and it's not just
>> > > > poetry.
>> > > Since
>> > > > I rarely read novels, don't watch tv, and seldom see non-historical
>> > > > films/DVDs, I can't judge those genres, but I do note that plays
>> > > > and
>> > > poetry
>> > > > puff up sales when they 'feel like' political anger or
>> class/age/gender
>> > > > angst. I think it's worse than pornography which at least honestly
>> rips
>> > > us
>> > > > off. Modern poetry and play "topic-porno" tweaks predictably and
>> > > quickly,
>> > > > but not surprisingly lacks creative depth.
>> > > ...
>> > > > our Empresses'
>> > > > New Clothes......wedged and skewered now into all our poem
>> > > > archives.
>> > >
>> > > > I hope several folk will write articles and books on this topic.
>> > >
>> > > > Best,
>> > >
>> > > > Judy
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > ------------------------------------------------------------
>> > > This email was sent from Netspace Webmail: http://www.netspace.net.au
>> > >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>> This email was sent from Netspace Webmail: http://www.netspace.net.au
>>
|