JJ Levine is a trans masculine and gender queer photographer based in Montreal who is best known for her gender bending projects such as “Alone Time” and “Switch”. “Alone Time” consists of a series of tableaux portraits that depict the same model acting out two different characters within the same scene, one character being a woman and the other, a man. “Switch” is a series of diptych images that at first glance depict two heterosexual couples in a prom style studio portrait. However, on closer inspection the images actual consist of two models rather than four. The same two models are used in both images, the couple are dressed as a man and a woman in the first image and in the second, the roles of reversed. The intriguing nature of the images is that it is unclear of what the couples actually genders are and whether or not there are a heterosexual or homosexual couple.
Levine’s work explores the concept of gender roles and strives to break these down but also questions the gender binary and questions whether gender is fluid and not as rigid as society has lead us to believe. JJ Levine’s “Queer Portraits” features many of Levine’s friends and acquaintances that are all part of the LGBT community which, if I am not mistaken can be considered under the umbrella of “queer”. I also believe that this title is significant as “Queer” generally means “strange” or odd” and generally has negative connotation. However, Levine’s subjects are present in a positive way that celebrates the differences and individuality of people. The descriptions of the portraits also do not also reveal what makes these people fit within the LGBT community, usually the image title consist of the name of the subject and the year the portrait was made. However, some images of more than on subject are titled differently, three examples being “Boyfriends in Bed 2011” , “Roommates 2013” and “Girlfriends 2012” (all pictured below) I think that these images are intriguing and beautifully composed.
I was drawn to Levine’s work because of her use of bright colours and striking subjects. Her work has a tableau feel due to the seemingly carefully selected colour schemes and the deliberate posing of the subjects which creates aesthetically pleasing compositions. This idealised controlled enviroment and subjects are themes that I want to include in my own work during this project. I also want to take direct inspiration from her use of colourful backgrounds and have ordered two backdrops to use in my response to her work as well as my own project.
I was given a task to create manipulate and image using Photoshop while taking inspiration from the work of Idris Kahn (Image above on left) and Stephanie Jung (Image above on right) These images are created using Photoshop or a similar photo editing software where the same image is duplicated an layered on top of its self multiple times to create a dream like sense of movement and fluidity.
ORIGINAL IMAGES
Above are the original images that I used during this experiment. These were final images for my AS exam last year and were previously presented as as series of 5 images with the second 2 image flipped on the other side to create a turning effect. For the outcomes of this experiment I used the first image several times to create a single blurred face and the turned heads both in the format above and flipped to created a more developed feel of turning motion.
PROCESSES
I first overlayed my front facing image six times using the “overlaying” blending filter on Photoshop.
I then tried a similar process with one of the angled faces, this one I overlayed five times, also using the “overlay” blending filter on Photoshop.
I then pasted the overlayed angled face onto the same background as the front facing face. I then flipped the image and pasted another on the other side of the forward facing face.
I then took the mid angle face and pasted it in it’s original format and flipped either side of the forward facing face in the centre and blending the additional faces into the image using the “screen” blending filter.
I then added some more faces over the top of the image using the “screen” blending filter and experimenting with the opacity.
In my last project I explored different female stereotypes of the 20th Century, selecting a cultural or political stereptype for each decade from the 1910’s to the 1990’s. I explored this characters with an outside perspective and now I would like to explore groups and stereotypes associated with these groups that I personally fit into. I think it would be interesting to play off these stereotypes and look at to what extent I conform to them. I hope to create a series of studio portraits that exaggerate these stereotypes in a way that will hopefully show that I am all of these and a the same time none of these stereotypes. I hope to make viewers consider the different stereotypes or boxes that they fit into.
Feminist
I personally identify as a feminist. “Feminism is the conviction that gender has been, and continues to be, a fundamental category for the organization of culture. Moreover, the pattern of that organization usually favors men over women.” P. Phelan (2014) It is my personal opinion that women and men should be equal and as of yet, women are considered not as important as men. I believe that people of any gender identity, race, cultural or financial background, nationality or sexual orientation should have the same rights. I do on occasion conform to the stereotype of an angry feminist, when in discussions surrounding women’s rights I can get frustrated with narrow minded people with misogynist ideals. I also think that when discussing issues surrounding gender inequality, sometimes women need to be loud and need to be passionate about what they believe in to be heard, and this can make them come across as angry. I hate the stereotype that feminists hate men. It is untrue, feminism is not about women being more important than men it is simple about women, the oppressed gender, to be equal to men, the socially dominant gender in our patriarchal society.
Art Student
There are a few stereotypical qualities associated with art students. They are many different preconceptions about artists and art students, these include: mental health problems, drug abuse, middle class backgrounds (presumably because the struggle of living hand to mouth is not something the middle class are used to and art is often not a very lucrative profession) and a need to feel like a “unique snowflake” while at the same time looking like every other art student. Another stereotype is that art students can be full of self importance and are often very pretentious when discussing art work. Some art students are not however, self confident and full of self doubt, always feeling like there work is not good enough and that other artists on their course are much better than them. Aesthetic stereotypes of of a female art student is the tumblr and instagram popularised hairstyle known as “space” buns, some kind of facial piercing, statement lipstick, a “indy” brand back pack and doc marten boots.
Opera/ Classical Singer
As a young person I feel that I don’t fit into most of the preconceptions of what a female opera singer is. The most common opera singer stereotype is a large middle aged woman with huge blonde braids and a horned helmet introduced by the soprano singer Frida Leider (1888-1975) who played Sieglinde in the Wagner Opera “Die Walkure” Above is a modern recording of the role performed by Karita Mattila. Other stereotypes associated with female soprano opera singers like myself is that they are overly dramatic and consider themselves superior to alto singer because of the extreme range of high notes that they can perform. Another stereotype is of course the beautiful dresses and gown that they perform in as well as the range of facial expressions and hand movements that they utilise to make their performance more dramatic.
Blonde
The stereotypes associated with women with blonde hair are that she must have a low IQ, be incredibly high maintenance, a diva, a bitch or be sexually promiscuous or “easy”. For the most part these preconceptions tied to women with blonde hair are rather negative and also often, untrue. Most positive stereotypes for women with blonde hair is that they are fun and bubbly or are simply of Scandinavian decent. As a child I had blonde hair but as I got older my hair darkened into a mousy, ashy light brown. I have coloured my hair many times from the age of 13 and have been blonde more than once during this 5 year period. I had been bleaching my hair to a platinum blonde coloured for over a year in order to die it pink, when I was sick of doing so I decided to leave it blonde and just maintain he brown roots. I had some bad experiences being a young blonde woman. I experienced cat calling much more frequently than when i had pink or brown hair, the most popular being “Hey, Blondie”. I also experienced multiple scenarios on the one time I went clubbing with blonde hair, two different men in different clubs thought that they had the right to touch me without asking or even talking to me. This bad experience along with a concern for my own safety and the health of my hair drove me to die my hair back to it’s natural colour. I hate that men associate blonde hair with someone who is “easy” because I believe this is why those men thought that they could do whatever they wanted. I have experienced much less catcalling since being a brunette again, only two instances in two months and I have had no bad experiences out clubbing either which reinforces my reasons to believe that it was my hair colour that was sending the wrong message. As a feminist I want to live in a world where women should be able to have whatever hair colour they want without being judged, but unfortunately that is not the world we live in and my safety comes first.
Beauty Pageant Winner
I think that there are many pre-conceptions about women who enter beauty pageants, they are often perceived as vain, high maintenance and full of self importance. I personally think that these seemingly negative qualities are inaccurate and what people are picking up on is high self confidence. To a certain extent these sort of competitions are superficial as generally speaking, it is attractive, conventionally beautiful women who enter. However, these women also need to be well spoken and articulate as they are ambassadors for their country, state, county, province, town or village. On Saturday 11th March I was crowned Miss Saint Helier 2017. My experience was very positive as I felt that the focus was definitely on the public speaking skills than the beauty aspect of the competition. I want to explore and research the ideas and history behind beauty pageants further before producing a response to my experience in the beauty pageant world as i was also a runner up for Miss Jersey Battle of Flowers 2016.
My personal environment is western society. This encompasses a wide array of different cultures and values but can be seen as very different form eastern society. As someone who has traveled to China, in the eastern world, and stayed in a Chinese family home I can confirm that subtle and more obvious differences exist. Western society seems to value individuals more than groups and communities than they do in the western world. The preservation of culture is also very important in China, and I can only assume that this sentiment is present in other countries in the East.
Visual Displays of Cultural differences in the East and Western world
Western culture is present in many European countries as well as others that have experience immigrants from european countries such as Australia and the Americas. Western values have many different influences including Celtic, Greek, Latin and Slavic as well at the different variations of the Christian faith. Despite Western Society’s many faults, there has been great ideas and customs that have orginated in the west. Western concepts include democracy, the separation of church and state, freedom of speech and the pursuit of equality. Western societies are often concerned about self discovery, self criticism and self inprovement and this has helped western countries because more interlectually developed. Western countries are generally economically and superior and more powerful than eastern countries with the exception of China. Although countires such as Japan and South Korea that have adopted a more western values have economically benefitted from the changes. There are many different opinions about the top five most powerful countires so I have included lists from three different websites linked below.
Most powerful countries according www.usnews.com
United States of America (West)
Russia (West)
China (East)
United Kingdom (West)
Germany (West)
Most powerful countries according to www.themeshnews.com
United States of America (West)
United Kingdom (West)
Germany (West)
China (East)
France (West)
Most powerful countires according to www.the-american-interest.com
Western culture is also built on capitalism which is why western countries or countries that have adopted certain form of western culture are on average more economically developed then countries with easter culture. Many people believe that western culture is superior to eastern culture and this is partially to do with western countries being, on the whole, rich and more powerful than eastern countries. Western culture is also more progressive and inclusive than eastern culture. In the west people of all races, sexualities, gender identities and backgrounds are more likely to be accepted in western countries. Here is a link to an essay describing how western values are superior to eastern values in the opinion of Ibn Warraq, an anonymous author critical of Islam, who we can only assume from the pen name is of middle eastern origin. I cannot say that I agree with everything said in the essay as I feel that Warraq is often overly critical of the islamic faith as many muslins live in western countries very peacefully.
Something that is present in both eastern and western cultures is patriarchy, men and women are not considered equal in either cultures. However, the west are known for their objectification of women and do this much more consciously and obviously than in the west. Above is some examples of how women are sexualised and objectified in western advertising. The Dolce & Gabbana advertisement depicts a women being pinned down be man while three men look on. The woman is not even making eye contact with the man she is being restrained by which emphasises the passivity she is displaying. The image actually makes me, as a woman, rather uncomfortable. The American Apparel advertisement again shows a woman being held by a man, this time upside down by the ankles in a suggestive position. Although both figures have no sense of identity with the lack of faces, there is more of the male figure on show, suggesting that he is the dominant of the two. I want to explore the idea of how women are presented in the western world in this project and perhaps look at the time of women that are celebrated for their looks.
Something that I want to explore in my personal study is my personal environment of western society and the western female stereotypes that I fit into. I explored female stereotypes of the 20th century with an outsiders perspective as I was born in 1998 and was not present to see the stereotypes I explored first hand. In this project I hope to explore my own archetypes and how I do not fit into one box, but many.
Above are the initial brainstroms surrounding the exam question: Environment. The main starting points that I then developed upon are the predictable concept of nature, the modern world and social media, capitalism and industrialism and created and constucted environment in tableaux photography.
NATURE
Eco systems: how do they work in nature, contrast this with the harmful “ecosystems” of human society
Symbiotic relationships: Mutually benefitial situations, contrast this with harmful relationships, humans do not look after the planet and yet still benefit from its resources.
Decomposition: Look at rotting food, maybe animal bodies. This idea could potenially be tied to the concept of ageing.
Enviromental conditions: Look at different temperatures and climates. This could tie in with the melting and boiling point of water, how humans adapt to their environment.
Country side vs City: Contrast the natural landscape with the man made landscape.
MODERN WORLD
Social Media: How social media influences how we present ourselves and see other people.
Loss of intamacy or privacy: We share our lives with the internet, has this resulted in a loss of privacy? We stay in contact through technology and are glued to our phones, has this caused a loss of intamacy?
Loss of privacy: Just by typing a name into the google search bar anyone can find photos and personal information on anyone who has a digitial footprint.
Loss of intamacy: Has social media and technology caused a lack of intimacy? Instead of meetibng friends for a coffee is the custom now to simply tag them in a relatable meme?
CAPITALISM, INDUSTRIALISM AND THE POWER OF MONEY
World Wide Brands: Thanks to capitalism and globalisation in the modern world, brand names such as Coca Cola and McDonalds can be recognised all over the world. There are 250 McDonalds establishments in New York City Alone
Exploitation of the working class: looking at how the working class seemingly work the hardest and are exploited for their labour that it not rewarded with a fair amount of pay.
White, Rich Man’s World: Looking at how some people are so privalleged that they are completely unaware of their privalege. The environment of the white, rich man, how he is the most privaledged in any situation.
Power of Money: Money makes the world go round and in today’s world where 1 million dollars mean nothing people are pressured to work hard and earn as much money as possible. This has resukted in the custom of working riduculous hours and as a result of this having to pay people to do the jobs they no longer have the time for. However, if they didn’t work as many hours and cleaned their own houses, did their own washing and walked their own dogs in their spare time they wouldn’t have to pay cleaner, lauderettes and dog walkers. The Power of money has also made young people very selfish, this has resulted in many people entering lond term relationships, marrying and having childern later in life. This custom is arguably possitive as it allows people to focus on caring for themselves before having to worry about other people.
Exposure to marketing and advertising: Consumers are bombarded with advertisements wherever they go, when they turn on their tv or radio, in every newspaper and magazine, at the bus stop, on the walk or daily commute to work. Advertisments can also play off people insecurities to encourage them to purchase products or services.
CONSTRUCTED/CREATED ENVIRONMENTS
Voids/empty spaces: Studio’s can be used to remove a person, object or scene from an enviroment. This can display the subject out of context which could be a very interesting idea to explore.
Controlled Enviroments: Subjects can be placed in environments that are completely controlled by the photographer, a house, a room or a studio. There are no distractions from the outside world and cannot be affected by weather or other people.
Fantasy, Dillusion, Imagination : constructed enviroments can be created to depict fantasy, dillusions or imagination. Props, costume and lighting can be utilised and controlled by the photographer to create scenes that are not based on relatity.
Installations: installations are another form of art that can be documented through photography or video. These enviroments are constructed within a pre-exsisting environment or within a blank gallery- like space.
