Final Project: Lesbotypes

Artist Statement:

There is an old-fashioned conception of the way that a lesbian must look, act, and dress. Yet in reality there are as many different “types” of queer women as there are women in the world. As more attention is given to queer identities and issues in mainstream media, more stereotypes of what a lesbian looks like are emerging. I am interested in this idea of self-representation, and the blend of truth and fiction that is present in all stereotypes. With this project, I set out to depict 6 different stereotypes or personas that have been attributed to lesbians/dykes in the past as well as today. I could continue this project with many more, and I will. The idea is that through this exploration of the stereotypes within one sub-group of people, questions will emerge about what stereotypes are placed on other groups as well. How do others label you? How do you label yourself? How do those two match up? These are important questions in thinking about identity and self-representation. For me, it just depends on the day.

Free Assignment

This was a free assignment week.  These pictures are also on the topic of alter-egos and drag.  However, the drag performance is of my femme side this time.  Taken with a canon digital rebel.  Exposures are about 8 sec. or so.

Alter Ego Assignment

After doing an alter-ego for the photobooth assignment, I found out that our next assignment was to create an alter-ego, using any method of our choosing.  So, this is sort of a similar alter-ego, depicted differently.  This is my drag-king persona.  The bad-boi, gender outlaw, who lives for danger and wanders alone at night.  ha, yeah.  This person is much tougher than I, and is not afraid to be exactly who they are, despite the rejection of societal norms.  I consider my gender to be rather fluid, and fluctuating, depending on factors such as mood, surroundings, time in my life, etc.  I am more feminine than masculine, however, and people certainly seem to label me as such.  So, I suppose that must be how I present.  I have been told by friends that there is something inherently feminine about me.  *shrugs*  I guess.  I don't necessarily ALWAYS feel that way.  So, this personal or alter-ego is the embodiment of that other side that is much more masculine.  I think gender is fascinating, and I enjoy thinking about the ways that people perform their gender through clothing, mannerisms, and the like.