Title of Abstract
More Than This
Session Title
Creative Expressions 2
College
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Department
Fine Arts
Faculty Mentor
Claudia O'Steen, M.F.A.
Abstract
My series More Than This consists of digital photographs that express my frustration with the toxic masculinity present in the trans community, along with my feelings of self-denial, dysphoria, and isolation. Currently, there is a certain mold that masculine aligning trans people have to fit into in order to be accepted and respected in today’s society. Personally, this conception brings along intense feelings of self-hatred and dysphoria, since I do not conform to the mold of the perfect trans masculine person. Why should I restrict how I express myself in public in order to be respected and to make others comfortable? Why is it my responsibility to make them comfortable? What about my own comfort? I’m tired of attempting to fit into a mold created by cisgender individuals. My work challenges this construct by actively disrupting the expectations put on me as a transmasculine person. My self-portraits present a play between femininity and masculinity by including traditionally feminine clothing, along with textures and clothing associated with both men and women. I want to close the gap between the two and help change the narrative of trans masculine people. In addition to this, I incorporate shapes hidden behind the figure as well as invading the space of the figure in order to parallel the feelings of discomfort that I feel. I use circles behind each of the figure’s heads to give a sense of divinity and otherworldliness. With these photographs, I ask the viewers to challenge their preconceived notions about gender and expression and reconsider the restrictive, cisnormative expectations put on trans individuals
Type of Presentation
Oral presentation
More Than This
My series More Than This consists of digital photographs that express my frustration with the toxic masculinity present in the trans community, along with my feelings of self-denial, dysphoria, and isolation. Currently, there is a certain mold that masculine aligning trans people have to fit into in order to be accepted and respected in today’s society. Personally, this conception brings along intense feelings of self-hatred and dysphoria, since I do not conform to the mold of the perfect trans masculine person. Why should I restrict how I express myself in public in order to be respected and to make others comfortable? Why is it my responsibility to make them comfortable? What about my own comfort? I’m tired of attempting to fit into a mold created by cisgender individuals. My work challenges this construct by actively disrupting the expectations put on me as a transmasculine person. My self-portraits present a play between femininity and masculinity by including traditionally feminine clothing, along with textures and clothing associated with both men and women. I want to close the gap between the two and help change the narrative of trans masculine people. In addition to this, I incorporate shapes hidden behind the figure as well as invading the space of the figure in order to parallel the feelings of discomfort that I feel. I use circles behind each of the figure’s heads to give a sense of divinity and otherworldliness. With these photographs, I ask the viewers to challenge their preconceived notions about gender and expression and reconsider the restrictive, cisnormative expectations put on trans individuals
