Journal of Steps

1)Creation of the Blog-I am using the UO Blogs system to set up and present my project. Once I have collected all of the pieces I will post them in a gallery on the blog with the artist name and titles. The blog is named “The Expression of Gender Through Materials.”

2)Collecting of the Collection

  • The Balcony- ÉdouardManet (Introduction: gender and art history by Gill Perry): I really liked how this piece displayed the clothing of “sophisticated” folk during the Victorian Era in Britain. The women hold an effeminate fan and umbrella, and are adorned with flowers and colorful necklaces, which are traditionally considered womanly. The man in the background is wearing a tux and seems in an all-encompassing masculine appearance.
  • Womens’ Hands and Mens’ Hands- Julia Jacqutte: This is as close to the ideal painting that I could have wanted. Each gender’s hands portray totally different stories of their personalities in the objects they hold and the ways that they display their individual style.
  • Wish You Were Here- Mary Sibande: This piece uses a depiction of a woman’s piece of clothing that is simply fascinating. There are many meanings and interpretations for the reader to derive from the entire set.
  • Early Color Interiors- Laurie Simmons: A dollhouse photography piece that shows the expected life and situation of a stay at home mom in the mid 1900s.
  • State portrait of Queen Victoria- Sir George Hayter: A depiction of Queen Victoria of Britain from 1837-38. I like this painting because it shows how women of power during that time choose to present themselves.
  • Dziewczynytez (Girls also)- VeronikaBromová: This piece is interesting because it shows how materials can be used to mask gender or to create an image of gender that may not match biological image.
  • Mo B Dick, Half & Half- Del LaGrace Volcano- Transgender artists have a way with deconstructing and challenging gender lines. This photograph shows that anyone can express gender individuality in colorful ways without limitations.
  • Self-portrait with thorn necklace and hummingbird- Frida Kahlo: I chose to include this piece because Frida uses a variety of items and characters to push her inner self onto the viewer.
  • The Spice Girls- DafnaLemish (Spice World: Constructing Femininity the Popular Way): As Lemish talks about in her article; the Spice Girls were a living embodiment of how to create gender. The music industry decided to fashion together the next female pop group that they knew young women would identify with. Through wardrobes and hairstyles they were able to create a personality for each spice, showing the power of materials.
  • Hispanic Girl With Her Brother, Dallas, Texas- Mary Ellen Mark: This is a great photograph that shows distinguished gender roles through chosen positions. The girl, with her white dress, is choosing an effeminate path for the future. The boy is fighting a dummy and choosing a traditionally masculine path. If the two kids switched positions, the resulting photo would be difficult to wrap your brain around.
  • Donald York Jr.Standing Beside his Father’s Wrecker- Mark Goodman: The old style, rough and tumble truck in the background is the reason I chose this work. The photograph distinguishes masculinity into a laborious, hard working, and blue-collar world.
  • Wonder Woman- William Moulton Marston (Qu(e)erying Comic Book Culture and Representations of Sexuality in Wonder Woman by Mitchel Brian Peters): The study of the Wonder Woman comics stuck out to me because they are a very influential modern piece of art. Many people see her (Princess Diana) as a female role model when growing up. Her “Lasso of Truth” symbolizes the importance of woman to be true to what is right and to herself. Her clothing is a powerful American icon and symbol of the female gender. There is plenty more to find in the role of the most famous female superhero.
  • Sarah Campbell- Joshua Reynolds: The woman’s extravagant hair boasts an overt femininity that can be withheld instantly upon viewing.
  • Self Portrait- Robert Keserv: Another transgender artist who shows how gender is a state of mind, and its outward appearance can be molded and chiseled like a stone sculpture.
  • King, Warrior, Magician, Lover- Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette: A great representation of the crown and how it and the armor of the warrior is a way to show masculinity and power.
  • Texnotropio- The distinguished mustache is and has been a powerful tool to represent masculinity. Even without much of a face this painting becomes heroically manly.

3)Publishing of the Collection:All of the paintings and photographs are being put into a gallery that can be viewed by anyone.