Gender

today started with a tutorial with my pathway leader Mark, we spoke about FMP and the self assigned project we have to complete before chirstmas. because I want to explore the 'Hidden Identity' project in alot of detail and as it has so much sub genres to explore I have decided to study that for my FMP. for now I have been thinking about basing my work on 'Gender', although there is alot to explore within this subject I feel that I have enough time to get a decent amount of research as well as a good outcome.

my ideas about 'Gender' to get me thinking/started!
- human rights?
-gay rights?
-development of gay rights?
-gays in different religions?
-artists who have made controversial artwork about gays
-codes of gender (documentary)
-queer theory
-transgender
-blasphemy- art that offends (book)
-legal gay marriages
-primary research
-Nadim Chaudary (gay artist)
-Peter Tatchell (gay activist)

after I did this brainstorm Mark put on the 'Codes of Gender' documentary which really enforced my ideas about this project. Erving Goffman explains the codes within society, we like seeing these codes because its so common but when they are broken its seems shocking to us. e.g. females are purposely made to pose on covers with their heads tilted and fingers in their mouth, but if males were to do the same it would be wrong - only because it is very rarely seen (even though none of this is determined). from this lecture I had my mind flushing with ideas about purposely looking at gay male poses, and making artwork that would question people.

I also started my proposal and looked at some artworks based on gays, such as Nadim Chaudhry's sculptures; an artist that gave a lecture last year at college, and since I have been very much interesting in his work because not just his artwork is challenging but also the fact that he is gay himself and a muslim.

with this project I feel very excited because I am looking into a personal matter of religion+gays therefore I will have strong opinions throughout the project.

(images- Nadim Chaudhry's work, Blasphemy: Art that Offends book and my initial notes/ideas)