Exhibition at the V&A

Discussion of fashion elements and looks that are traditionally considered somewhat "femme" but are presented in a masculine context. This is NOT about transvestism or crossdressing.
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Pdxfashionpioneer
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Re: Exhibition at the V&A

Post by Pdxfashionpioneer »

Carl said,
masculinity is most assuredly NOT "performance art"

Oh, but it is! At least the expression thereof. Just as femininity is. Ask any self-reflective woman who has ever gotten dressed up for a "hot date" or a special event.

And there is nothing demeaning with acknowledging it. Many of you have said as much when you talk about the current definitions of masculinity being a social construct.

Carl also said,
There is precisely nothing other than socialisation that equates skirts with womanhood.

True enough, but we've all been subject to that socialization. So when we're drawn to wearing skirts, especially from an early age, it's from something deep inside us; no matter what the rationalization.

When we go out in public in a skirt or better yet, a dress, we're breaking the masculine norm. Perhaps an a$$ backwards and nonsensical norm, but a norm nonetheless and we're not conforming to it.

But since we're talking about the history of fashions, let's talk about the historical basis of many of the norms of male presentation. Where did so many of them come from? Warfare. And what's more masculine than that? Short hair? In the Middle Ages, sentries were prone to get so distracted by picking lice out of their hair, they missed the approaching enemies. Correction: short hair for the rank and file. Sometime around the 17th century someone figured out that knee britches and stockings made more sense for infantrymen on the move and in battle than tunics and tights. Around the beginning of the 19th century some military genius figured out that full length pants made more sense yet. Then in the First World War, when gas warfare came into vogue, so did gas masks. Soon thereafter the military minds realized that beards and mustaches prevented an effective fit on the gas masks. Hence the clean shaven look. Fortunately for all concerned, King Gillette (Honest, "King" was his first name.) had invented the safety razor and subsequently made a fortune supplying them to the Allied armies. (Interestingly, the man was a socialist and a pacifist. Go figure.)

Clearly, that last norm is regularly honored in the breach. But let's face it, for all practical purposes, it's something the ladies are biologically incapable of, hence it's exclusively male and therefore masculine and who, when it comes time to attract the ladies, doesn't want that badge?

And I'm living proof that at least in that case masculinity is something one can take off; I'd be hard pressed to count the number of beards I've grown and groomed and then removed altogether.
David, the PDX Fashion Pioneer

Social norms aren't changed by Congress or Parliament; they're changed by a sufficient number of people ignoring the existing ones and publicly practicing new ones.
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Pdxfashionpioneer
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Re: Exhibition at the V&A

Post by Pdxfashionpioneer »

I finally got around to clicking on the link and here's what the introduction says:

"At a moment of unprecedented creativity in men's fashion and reflection on gender, this exhibition explores how designer, tailors and artists -- and their clients and sitters -- have constructed and performed masculinity, and unpicked it at its seams."

As I see it, the V&A is saying there are two things going on at the same time, creativity in men's fashion and at the same time, but not necessarily the same as, reflection on gender. They go on to say that all types of creative people are having a go at these two topics. Some make things, such as clothes and paintings and some are performers and they explore what it means to be masculine in some of their performances. In so doing, they are picking at (pulling apart) the concept at its seams; i.e., opening up what it means to be masculine. Perhaps even pulling the current definition apart to free it up for more versions than have recently been included in the social norms.

Carl, isn't that PRECISELY what you want?

I have to ask, why are you so triggered by the term "gender"?
David, the PDX Fashion Pioneer

Social norms aren't changed by Congress or Parliament; they're changed by a sufficient number of people ignoring the existing ones and publicly practicing new ones.
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Kirbstone
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Re: Exhibition at the V&A

Post by Kirbstone »

David,
Where ever do you manage to get the time available to write so many long and convoluted posts?

For my sins at age almost 80 I still show up at work 5 days a week and on returning home must carry out routine chores so SWMBO doesn't have any excuse to berate me over something. Not much time for sitting at a computer!

Those chores include two daily sessions of serious competitive dog-walking, or Security Staff strolling. For exercise in addition most days after Work I attack my 'erg' or Concept 2 Rowing machine from which there is a panoramic view of the underside of the garage loft sloping roof.

Then there's the 'ol' joanna'. Until recently I could cheerfully give it a whole hour's wellie, visiting and re-visiting old favourites and always consulting something new, fresh off the piano music downloading facility. Nowadays I'm just too whacked in the evenings and after about 20 mins. I need to give it a break, maybe to return later on to get some tune in my head down onto the keys.

For a forthcoming family (granddaughter's) nuptials currently I'm putting together a medley of racy Irish fiddle tunes, performed on the whistle and that takes a surprising amount of input to get up to speed & begin to sound like the Radio......

Tom
Carpe Diem......Seize the Day !
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