Why to (not?) boycott Olympia - The maybe of Sotchi

The question of the Olympic Winter Games 2014 in Sotchi has probably been one of the most discussed questions with LGBT IQA and human rights concern in 2013. And as the games will take place this February it is definitely on the table more then ever. For a reason!

From: http://www.icedteaandsarcasm.com/

“Should we boycott the Olympic Winter Games in Sotchi due to the actions and laws provided by the Russian government?” – Sounds pretty much like a super easy no brainer situation to loud and prod declare: “Yes, of course!” But the reality speaks a different language. The language of concerns about the Olympic thought, fairness towards the athletes, political correctness and the question what a boycott could really, realistically, achieve. And as the discussion about this thing could go on and on in text form it might be a bit easier to take it to a list of arguments for and against a boycott.

Why NOT to boycott the Olympic Games in Sotchi, Russia:

The Olympic idea

The Olympic thought is about co-operation in peace and without harm. The participants are not seen as representatives of a political system or ideology of any other kind, but as representatives of sports. Therefore it is not right to use the games in any favor of ANY ideology.

Fairness towards the Athletes

The athletes have trained hard to qualify for Olympia and have as well trained forever to show themselves at their high point. This work should be respected and honored with Olympia.

Why TO boycott the Olympic Games in Sotchi, Russia:

Olympic idea and Russia trampling on it

Olympia is, as I mentioned above, about working together in peace and harmony. The Olympic thought excludes any discriminatory acts and the games are a nonpolitical happening. But truth be told Russia as a country breaks ass the rules that the Olympic spirit and idea actually imply. The human rights situation in Russia is a disaster.

Prestige for Putin? – Not with me!

The very fact that the games have been given to Russia shows that the choice of place for the event was, in my opinion, made without looking on politics. Absolutely right in the Olympic spirit. But such games on the other hand legitimize the government of a country as the games are an economic driver and a prestigious moment in a countries history.  And President Putin has so far milked every moment from Olympia for his publicity.

Anti Gay Law – Zero tolerance for that!

The fact that Russia has a law that bans propaganda of any lifestyle other than the heterosexual one in order to protect children from unhealthy influences and pedophilia shows that Russia, as a state, is still caught in the dark ages where homosexuality equals pedophilia, sickness and society hurting. The Olympic games will not be the 2 week exception where this, very blurry, law does not apply. Rather it will legislate the law as the games still happen.

Exposure Darling, Exposure!

Politics and sport should actually not be mixed and mingled but they ultimately are as Russia uses the games as a platform in political ways. Olympia has always been political and the attention it gives to problems in such countries is, in my opinion, needed. It might only look like a drop of water on a hot stone but problematic issues like the human rights and LGBT IQA situation in Russia needs as much exposure as possible.  And don’t tell me the exposure is constant, as I haven’t really read anything about it lately in the major news outlets. Change is linked to exposure.

A medal won’t change a thing (or a law)!

It might be unfair to steal the athletes the thunder by boycotting the games, but still they can win their medals. And don’t tell me that an LGBT IQA athlete or LGBT IQA ally athlete winning and waving the rainbow flag will change anything. It might be a sign, for 10 seconds, and might annoy President Putin, but that won’t change anything. Recall Olympia in Germany under Hitler. All though Jewish or black athletes from other countries were allowed to compete and could win that sis not change the whole situation at all. Millions were killed, and one gold medal or black participant here or there did do nothing, even as it proved Hitler to be wrong. Some applies to Russia. A gay or lesbian athlete winning gold is great but won’t actually change the situation.

Legislating homophobia as an Olympic side effect? – We need a cure!

Russia once legalized homosexuality and declared it no longer to be a mental illness about 20 years ago. And now the country has gone a step back and practically is on the way of making homosexuality a crime again. And don’t tell me it is not that way, because beating up LGBT IQA people while the police are watching and not intervening practically is legislated homophobia. The Games will just continue to be a pink bubble that hides the ugliness that is Russia’s sanctioned bigotry.

Free speech and publishing in Russia – That’s a good one!

And last, but definitely not the last possible argument, is that Russia as well will very much control what will be reported by its own press and what not. Free speech is a valuable good and Russia is a country where that right might officially be given but the reality is a different story. Olympia once again would be a bubble to cover this up in the celebration and joy about Olympia.

See? This small list definitely shows that the Sotchi question is actually not easy to answer. But I still call for a boycott, as no medal won, no participation, no protest and no action will actually change the laws or the Russian peoples (I generalize a bit here, not every Russian is a homophobe. But many (statistically seen) are.) homophobia. I don’t thinks sitting in a stadium and cheering for your favorite athlete, raising a rainbow flag, will be adequate. Don’t trust the world to be smart and understanding, to see that Russia is an immature homophobic place (Politically seen. I can’t speak for the Russian people!). Watch it on your TV if you have to. And tweet your congrats out to the winners of medals and the athletes in general, write about the LGBT Question and report every protest, but what will it change? I will not watch any of the Olympic games. I will not cheer for an athlete. But I don’t do it to shade the sport. I congratulate every athlete there and every fair sportsperson. I congratulate all the winners in advance for their amazing work. But I am not legitimizing the fact that Russia uses the games to cover up its human rights problems. So my answer is: boycott! (Even though I will write about it all to use the exposure, and call for a boycott all the time! If you tend to disagree I must say that I am okay with it. I respect your opinion. And I declare that what is written here is my personal opinion, not to be generalized for any group of people!)

Oh and the construction for the games has as well caused problems with people living in these regions. Many of them are, said nice, very disappointed. Aka. These people are freaking angry. Cause they have been wronged so much. Just google it. 

Icon Art Awards 2013 - LGBT IQA & Comedy

As I write these lines it is 22:45 in Germany on December 31st. And we I am a day late in giving you this part of the Icon Art Awards. But before the new Year rings in and I will mess up and write 2013 instead of 2014, I will give you my honorees in the LGBT IQA category and in the category of comedy. But lets stop the talking and lets start the shading and crowning.

LGBT IQA Person of the Year– All the Celebrities that came out 2013

Besides the fact that with this whole new bunch of baby gays and hot new jocks to love and luster after the point that they now officially jumped the river and joined that other team, aka. our team, has actually done very much and nothing at all. First things first it should not be that big of a deal that someone comes out, as it is 2013 and acceptance should be the norm. Since it still is not makes the entire coming outs a big deal. We finally have some outed LGBT professional athletes, more outed LGBT actors and more outed celebs at all that are able to send one clear message to all the LGBT IQA youth out there in fear or suffering: No matter what you identity regarding sex, gender or desire is, you can make it in any branch of life. All that really matters are your abilities. And that is why it was kind of a biggie after all.

Best LGBT Project of 2013 – “Mundpropaganda” by German male fashion magazine GQ

GQ Germany has brought together some pretty famous straight male German celebrities from all branches of life, that did one thing in front of the camera: they kissed. And that kiss was all intentional as its should show that kissing men, kissing straight men, is something to be accepted, something normal and something that actually is nothing of great importance as it is normal. The campaign gained huge momentum and the reaction was split as it usually is. But one thing is clear as we saw homophobe commenting everywhere: That there is a need for campaigns such as this one.

Coming Out Of 2013 – Ben Wishaw

I am a big fan of Ben as an actor and his last very prominent role as Q in the last Bond movie “Skyfall” gave my loiiife, as well as his character play in the epic “Cloud Atlas”. Constantly being questioned about his sexuality Wishaw always responded that is actually never is of importance for his job, and he does not understand the fuzz about his person, as his acting in itself should be so much more of importance. His by the way statement of being in a civil partnership with Mark Brashaw sealed the awesome deal for me.

Queerest Thing 2013 – Marco Marco Fashion Show

This years Marco Marco Spring Summer show for 2014 was just amazing! And why? The great music, the stunning clothes and the little fact that except for our honoree as Transgender Person of 2013, and some gorgeous and probably gay male models the whole collection was presented by drag queens. And we had many of our favorites in there such as: Shangela, Willam, Detox, Raja, Yara Sofia, Manila Luzon, Vicky Vox, Courtney Act and many many more.

Transgender Person of the Year – Carmen Carrera

After being a contestant on RuPauls Drag race season 3 Carmen had made a bold decision that was to come out as transgendered and go all the way to become Carmen anatomically. And boy, she has been a true, beautiful and talented in inspiration and kind voice for the trans community since then. She as well was petitioned to become Victorias Secrets first transgender model ever. Move over Candis, Bar and whoever, Carmen is here with a body for sin and a story of heaven!

Biggest Homophobe of 2013 – Vladimir Putin

This one is actually pretty obvious, as Vladimir Putin is not known to be a man that is a friend of any kind of diversity that differs from the heterosexual norm that works within the frames given by him.  He is a person that has more faces than a drag queen, is known to be the dictator of Russia, even though technically the country is a democracy, and as well known to be a possible homophobe. He never actually said that he was but his general actions speak words.

LGBT Un-friendliest Country – Russia

Okay this one is as well no real surprise. Russia re-enforced a law that prohibits propaganda of not considered stereotypical lifestyles. Meaning: everything that is linked to the LGBT IQA community, be it direct or indirect, is forbidden and the police are allowed to interact. Further the law has made it possible for Russian homophobes to attack LGBT IQA members in public, and continue to spread their hateful agenda. Be it. There is so much more that the country is a human rights catastrophe.

Best Comedy Video 2013 – Jimmy Kimmel, Channing Tatum, Jamie Fox and Miley

Cyrus in “Channing All Over Your Tatum”

There is something that really makes this video the hit it is as it feature Channing Tatum who had more than one cameo appearance I my head, and definitely starred in the main role many times. As well it has a funny double entendre joke with a sexual innuendo, Sarah Silverman, Jimmy Kimmel, Jamie Fox and our ratchet ass twerk kween Miley Cyrus. I wanna channing all over that tatum. Definitely, wouldn’t you too?

           

Best Parody 2013 – “BlurredBynes” by DWV

Blurred Lines might be the song of 2013 that should have been forbidden but our favorite drag queen triple and their drag-tastic humor can make anything happen and anything a thing. This funny parody of Blurred Lines makes fun of Amanda Bynes in all matters possible. Besides the three drag divas being tremendously ah-mazing and gorgeous and talented they really push the right buttons and make the right things happen so that the parody is a brilliant take on pop culture and the actual momentum. Not to forget the hash tags. #SRSLYSYRIA

Best Comedian/Comedienne – Kathy Griffin

Oh my dear. Kathy really has rocked this year as she recorded three comedy specials and has as well received the honor of having the most televised standup specials of any comedienne or comedian. And with her just recently released one, simply called “Record Breaker”, its up to a number of 20 stand up specials all recorded from 2004 on, except for her first two ones. That makes Kathy release about 2 specials a year. Kathy is just awesome, funny, fierce and a great LGBT IQA supporter.

My Name Is Dita - An Experiment

Hey yall! As you do know by now I am a huge fan of everything concerning the theories of gender, sex, queer, feminism and performance. And as I am very secure in the texts that surround the theories I am tempted to get the whole thing to the next level: reality.

During last Tuesdays LGBT social night we dressed up as a rainbow, and of course, I was in team red. Besides my narcicistic wish to win best dressed, yes I am a bit vain, I also made the whole eening an exciting experiment. As I dressed up, and looked more and more of a mixture of fucked up dirty drag queen and glam rock experiment, I thought about what the color red represents in the LGBT flag. Of course it represents life  but also sexuality. And, the whorry, slutty and cunty person I am, I bought a whip, with a heart shaped end, to complete my outfit for the evening. Covered in red glitter, dolled up with lip stick, eyeliner, red paint and tons of red lipstick I had a close look at my actual outfit. I wore a red shirt, burgundy red pants and my cherry red Dr. Martens boots, and yes they are the same Miley wore in the Wrecking Ball video. I actually looked like a mixture of a dominatrix and busted gender blender. AWESOME!

As you can see, Dita was everything else then shy.

And now, let me build yu a bridge to where I am commig from right now academically. My dissertation is going to be on the use of S&M i pop culture, mainly in thee different types of works. These three are "Venus in Furs" a novel by Leopold von Sacher Masoch, published in 1870, SEX by Madonna, yes I mean the 1992 published super scandalous coffe table book, and the 2012 released 5 minute short film FAME by Lady Gaga which is also a commercial for her perfume Fame. 

And to get better understanding of why Madonna put up the figure of Dita in her book sex, I thaught that for this night, my name could be Dita as well. I introduced my outfit to my friends as: "My name is Dita, I will be your mistress tonight!". Very Madonna, very erotica and due to my outfit and masquerade very much gender fuck.  Below you ca see the pictures of Ditas kisses and lipstick writings on everyone, cause "Dita is one everyone."

As a result I can say that putting on a persona and do something with it is extremely liberatig and very empowering. But at the same time I can imageine that the character in itsself is a very intimidating one.

And of course I want to give a big big big thank you to all my amazing friends who have allowed Dita to kiss, draw on and whip them. You guys seriously are amazing!

DITA IS ON EVERYONE

"Academia" - Lady Gaga - The Deconstruction of a Pop Star Identity

In light of Gaga's latest album beeing released, I think it is time for me to give you my latest academic turn on Gaga. In this essay I will show that Lady Gaga is a huge identity construct that shows that she is not the usual pop star we expect her to be. So I hope you can enjoy the read. 

Structure

1. From Warhol’s Theories of Perception and Grotesque, out of this World Couture to constant Gender Blur and a Fight for LGBT IQA Rights – Welcome to the Multi Layered World of Lady Gaga
2. The Theory of Plural Identities and Identity as a Construct
3. Camp – [Former] prison for an illegal minority, now […] a holiday for consenting adults (Core, 80)
4. Queer and Queer Theory – Deconstruction as an Enterprise
5. “A unicorn, [a] giant vagina, a meat couch, homoerotic dancing & screaming monsters. U won’t see that sh*t at a Bieber concert. #BornThisWayBall” (@VEVO) – Lady Gaga and the Art of Grotesque
6. A Pop Star and a Message – Why Lady Gaga is able to Spread her Agenda
7. Stripper Boots and Female Empowerment – Lady Gaga as a feminist (?)
8. Joe Calderone, Yüyi the mermaid and a sexualized body – Lady Gaga’s relation to Gender, Sex and Drag
9. Fashion Forward, Fashion Fatale, Fashion(able)? – Lady Gaga and “la mode”
10. The Beauty and the Beast – Monster Like or a Real Lady? – Beauty & Lady Gaga
11. In Shape and in Style – Lady Gaga and the Body
12. Mother Monster and her Little Monsters – Lady Gaga and her Fans
13. Lady GayGay thanks “God and the Gays” – Gaga and LGBT Activism
14. Violence, Sex and Tabloids – Lady Gaga and the Unholy Trinity of Celebrity Culture
15. Lady Gaga – A Multitude of Identity Parts
16. List of Works Cited

1. From Warhol’s Theories of Perception and Grotesque, out of this World Couture to constant Gender Blur and a Fight for LGBT IQA Rights – Welcome to the Multi Layered World of Lady Gaga

[Lady Gaga:] When you watch each image and you watch each thing come out, they might not look exactly the same. I’m not defined by the same designer or defined by the same hair cut or defined by the same icon. The statement is that I’m not one icon. I’m every icon. I’m an icon that is made out of all the colors on the palette at every time. I have no restrictions. No restrictions. (Iredale)

As Lady Gaga makes a visually stunning, theatrical and artistic complex comeback to the music scene she constantly reminds the ever scandal hungry public that she is more than what obviously meets the eye. Behind the glamorous and outrageous fashion choices, shocking and fascinating performances, disturbing and mesmerizing music videos there are many different layers at work, all the time. Lady Gaga is more than a flat character, more than a single identity, or as she puts it in the quote: “I’m every icon.” What meets the academic interest here is that this pop star gives us a view behind the curtain. Lady Gaga apparently is a well thought, multi layered, ambiguous and controversial construct nourished by the possibilities offered by a queer world reading, camp and grotesque aestheticism and an anti – heteronormative identity and gender performance.

In this essay I will give a reading of the identity construct of Lady Gaga. Theoretically I will center my analysis on Amartya Sen’s theory of identities as constructs of plural affiliations and I will prove that multi layered identity constructs are not contradictory. Ongoing, I will explain the functions and mode of operations of queer, camp and explain the importance of grotesque for this essay. As I have laid out the theoretical basics I will go on and dissect the most important and prominent features of the constructed identity that is Lady Gaga and provide this identity autopsy with examples of the oeuvre of the artist. Alongside I will show why her body of work has such an impact on popular culture and why her disturbing attempts to change the world one sequin at a time are so successful.

2. The Theory of Plural Identities and Identity as a Construct

The economic theorist and essayist Amartya Sen is widely famous for his book Die Identitätsfalle – Warum es keinen Krieg der Kulturen gibt. In this book he not only explains his ideas of multiculturalism and cultures and oppression but also his theory of identity as a construct. Sen begins his argumentation with the notion that every “realer Mensch […] vielen verschiedenen Gruppen angehört […]” (Sen, 35 ) and that being part of numerous different categories simultaneously is very important (Sen, 33). He exemplifies this argument by giving the reader a short display of some of the groups he belongs to:

Was mich betrifft, so kann ich mich zur gleichen Zeit bezeichnen als Asiaten, Bürger Indiens, Bengalen mit bangladeschischen Vorfahren, Einwohner der Vereinigten Staaten oder Englands, Ökonomen, Dilettanten auf philosophischem Gebiet, Autor, Sanskritisten, Mann, Feministen, Heterosexuellen, Verfechter der Rechte von Schwulen und Lesben, Mensch mit einem areligiösen Lebensstil und hinduistischer Vorgeschichte […] [bezeichnen]. (Sen, 33-34)

Each and every part of these groups is ranked in a hierarchical system and case by case one has to decide which one of this identity parts takes which priority (Sen, 34). As to be observed are the following two rules: Erstens die Einsicht, das[s] Identitäten entschieden plural sind und das die Wichtigkeit einer Identität nicht die Wichtigkeit einer anderen [zunichtemachen] mu[ss]. Zweitens mu[ss] man […] entscheiden, welche relative Bedeutung man in einem bestimmten Kontext den unterschiedlichen Loyalitäten und Prioritäten beimi[ss]t, die möglicherweise miteinander um Vorrang konkurrieren. (Sen, 34)

The idea that all the given identiy parts are plural and can coexist is further emphasized by Sen when he explains that „[j]eder von uns hat in seinem Leben in unterschiedlichen Kontexten an Identitäten vielfältiger Art teil, […] und jedes diese Kollektive kann einem Menschen eine potentiell bedeutsame Identität vermitteln.“ (Sen, 38). His argumentation comes to a closure by the following statement: Im normalen Leben verstehen wir uns als Mitglieder einer Vielzahl von Gruppen, denen allen wir angehören. Staatsangehörigkeit, Wohnort, geografische Herkunft, Geschlecht, Klassenzugehörigkeit, […], Musikgeschmack, soziale Engagements usw. – das alles macht uns zu Mitgliedern einer Vielzahl von Gruppen. Jedes diese Kollektive, denen ein Mensch gleichzeitig angehört, verleiht ihm eine bestimmte Identität. Keine seiner Identitäten darf als seine einzige Identität […] verstanden werden. (Sen, 20)

All the examples Sen has provided, his argumentation, that identity is a construct of smaller identity parts which are plural in their nature, but not exclusive nor contradictory in their connection and coexistence, paints the picture of identity as a multi layered concept applicable to any human being, regardless of age, gender and sex. No identity part might be understood as the individual’s single identity. The identity theory he presents is based on two primary sources: the plurality of the identity parts and their changing priority due to the change of context.

3. Camp – [Former] prison for an illegal minority, now […] a holiday for consenting adults (Core, 80) 

Since its first emerge in the Stonewall era camp has come a long way and transcended into mainstream culture making it a “disguise that fails” (Core, 80). What Core wants to express is that camp emerged in the time of the 1960’s and 70’s as a matter of “passing”. In her essay, From Interiority to Gender Performatives, Judith Butler not only explains how gender is constructed, and how the heteronormative discourse keeps its power, but also the reason why camp emerged: “[Camp emerged] as a strategy of survival within compulsory systems, [since] gender is a performance with clearly punitive consequences. […] we regularly punish those who fail to do their gender right.” (Butler, 366). What Butler expresses is that camp emerged as a disguise for homosexuals. But what makes it more special than a normal disguise is that camp is a disguise constituted to fail (Core, 80). Core explains his poetical description of camp as follows: “There are only two things essential to camp: a secret within the personality which one ironically wishes to conceal and to exploit; and a peculiar way of seeing things, […], but strong enough to impose itself on others trough acts or creations.” (Core, 82), which brings us to the understanding that “CAMP is in the eye of the beholder, especially if the beholder is camp.” (Core, 81). This means that the disguise of camp only fails if the recipient is aware of camp and its workings. Further it is understood as a parodic device characterized by irony, aestheticism, theatricality and humor (Horn, 87). Therefore camp relies on its audience’s ability to “find” it, a characteristic that it shares with irony and its discursive community.

Even though camp emerged in the homosexual community one does not necessarily need to be homosexual to be, understand or create with camp (Core, 80). But, as I said before, “It takes one to know one.” (Core, 80). A remarkable ability of camp is that, due to its nature, it is able to operate at the heart of popular culture without generally being perceived as criticizing it at the same time. “The “normal” man remains comfortable with camp because it amuses him.” (Core, 85) and to add: there might be a good possibility he might not understand what camp is about. Camp resides on people’s desire to be entertained (Core, 85). To ensure its survival and multiply its abilities and space to work within “[…] camp has taunted the media to concentrate on excess, any excess […]”, because camp works best in the realm of its four basics: theatricality, aestheticism, irony and humor. Excess and over the top aesthetics offer the best possibilities for an effective use of camp, which explains why Lady Gaga can be seen as camp, because no other pop star is as excessive in her existence as she is.

One could easily question: Why this excess? Why the aesthetic sweets buffet? With the help of camp it is possible to criticize. In his essay Warhol’s Camp Matthew Tinkom put it as follows: “[I]n camp we witness viewing practices which do insist on reading […] popular culture for [it’s] limits and contradictions” (Tinkom, 348). Hence, it is perfect for this criticism since one must know of the workings of camp or either would not perceive a campy work as such. Which brings us another glimpse of Core who named gave the most striking line about camp: “CAMP is a lie that tells the truth.” (Core, 81). If a campy work is placed in the center of the discourse it criticizes, it alleges conformity but is placed publicly for all camp insiders to see. “CAMP is gender without genitals” (Core, 83) explains camps over the top nature as exaggerating gender and ironizing it to a point where camp is gender fluid and gender mocking.

Another important characteristic of camp, and especially of Andy Warhol and therefore of Lady Gaga’s camp, is it’s appreciation of glamour (Tinkom, 349). Warhol as an artist always sought out to iconize and ironize everyday products by sheer endless repetition. When he turned to film he “[…] sought to use the materials of Hollywood in order to critique it.” (Tinkom, 348). Warhol, as Lady Gaga, used Hollywood glamour and ironized it to a point where it reached such an over the top point from where it was constructed that it ultimately was only to be perceived as constructed. Tinkom showed the way of Warhol’s camp by stating: “Remembering Warhol’s comment that he wanted $ 1.000.000 from Hollywood to make a movie, I can only hazard that the final product might have looked like Terminator II with RuPaul playing the hero.” (Tinkom, 351).

"I Love Art" - Get them clothes changed! - Switcheroo by Hana Pesut

Photographs are great, am I right? You can literally capture everything, from the most candid and meaningless shot to the most iconic and historically important moment. But, what you can capture as well, is potantial for discompfort. Yes, that is possible. And Hana Pesut has done that, in a beautiful way!

 

Her tumbler is a fascinating and very urban seeming wild mxiture of all sorts of (mostly) portrait photographs with tons of different photo concepts and great ideas. But the series that got her in the spotlight, and actually has caught y attention and admiration, is called "Switcheroo". What may sound quite mysterious and maybe complex is actually a simple, but very strong, idea and a clean concept. In this series Pesut has asked couples of strangers, as far as I have seen the pictures all couples are male and female, to be photographed. She has taken a photograph of them and then has taken another one of them. BUT: this time the two photographed individuals have switched clothes. And out comes an interesting picture, with an even bigger question in the back. Do we feel compfortable with these pictures, or do they evoke some sort of discompfort?

As one can imagine, there is a war going on right now. And this war is not faught with weapons or violence, well mostly not, but is between "morals", gender construction and the possibilities and the will of people to accept change. What I mean is: Are we ready to accept different notions of gender in our society as "normal" and part o the spectrum, or do we still keep close to what classically is a manly and what is feminine. Are we able to accept and agree over thefact that gender is fluid, its nature is constructed and its existance is a performance? If looking at the following pictures might evoke the sense in you, that you might feel a discompfort in seeing people wearing clothes not directly assignable to their gender, and walking the streets like that, there is the possibility that you might not agree with me to some point.

By the way: The pictures I use of course are property of Pesut. But these three following are my favorites, of what I have seen so far.

If you ask me, I would loo twice on the streets. But thing is I would actualy walk along with a big smile and be happy that people dare to challenge stereotypical notion of gender through fashion. And, lets be honest for a second, most of the people in the clothes of the other don't look bad. I mean men in dresses is probably the thing that causes the biggest stirr, but they don't look bad in them, they just look unusual. Anyways, I find the photographs to be a great, and much needed, idea. Gender is a construct, a performance and actuallly pretty useless since gender is not sex. So go ask: "Is this causing any discompfort to someone, and if so, why?

"What the heck is this?" - Queer Theory and Kathy Griffin Part 4

Counting toward the end of this series featuring queer theory, comedy and funny fierce female comedienne Kathy Griffin I really hope you got to enjoy the given essay. If not, well I can only tell you that you should at least know about it, since it has some great importance!

Okay the three page you will get this time will focus on he analysis of Kathy stirring up Emmy and religious controversy, Kathy and charity, a little bit about Kathy and the "dentist" (D-List fans will know what I am talking about, and if you don't know I either recommend reading Kathy's book, which I reviewed here, or watch her show "My Life on the D-List", which I reviewed here) and Kathy picking on celebs! But if you haven't read any of the earlier essay parts I recommend you read the parts 1, 2 and 3 first!

Continue to read after the jump!

"What the heck is this?" . Queer Theory and Kathy Griffin Part 3

Well, well, well. It is already Part  that is o the go to you of my essay on Kathy Griffin giving Hollywood a dressing down, D-List style. How she does it? She uses queer theory! And you should definitely know about that one!

If you haven't read the first and the second part of this academic and comedic festival yet, i strongly advise you to do so right now! You can find the first to parts in the Academia category! So go, read, educate yourself and enjoy! If you have already read the first two parts just start and read the third part! This time I got the rest of the definition of what I call "The Hollywood Identity" and the beginning of my analysis of Griffins work! So enjoy!

Continue to read after the jump!

"What the heck is this?" - Queer Theory and Kathy Griffin Part 2

Hello there! I hope you checked out the last part of this series since it is fucking good academic stuff! SO if you have not done so, go and do so right here on Icon Art Marilyn! What I am talking about? of course I am  talking about the Queer Studies essay I wrote on Kathy Griffin!

Last time I gave you the index page and the first 3 pages of this academic and comedic Bonanza about the fierce funny woman, now the next three are up! What is in there this time? Well it will be all about Queer as a theory and the beginning of defining what I call "The Hollywood Identity". So take out you library cards and put on your nerdy face! I am about to school you! (In a much less boring way than school is!)

Continue to read after the jump!

"What the heck is this?" - Queer Theory and Kathy Griffin Part 1

Well, I am sure some of you might have noticed that I am currently enrolled at a university an that I am a student. One of my major fields of interest and study are queer studies, gender studies, performance studies and camp studies. I think as a strong supporter of the LGBT IQA cause in any country, by the way congratulations to the people in England and Wales who just recently passed gay marriage and made the world a more equal and great place, and as a strong supporter of the feminist movement, the democratic movement, human right movement and every goddamn necessary and good movement out there it would be best to devote my studies to these causes.

So last semester I wrote an essay to finish my course in queer studies called "Kathy Griffin Deconstructing the Hollywood Identity - Queer in Use". This one cost me lost of time and compassion, but not only my love for fierce funny female Kathy and her D-List cause (Kathy: Lets face it, when you land in academia you definitely are no longer D-List!) made me do this but also my deep belief in the fact that we need queer studies in order to slowly change our society for the better! (And not only for the LGBT IQA cause!) So I am gonna give to you the first part of this essay, to show you a little bit of the work I am doing, and to get you guys out there interested in queer and comedy! And since it is a 6-7 thousand word essay, you will get it in parts.... (might be easier!) So here is the first part consisting of the Index and the first 3 pages! Forgive me if there are any typos in there, i have not corrected it once more after i gave it to my professor. But good thing is: I got a 1,7!

Continue to read after the jump!

Music Minute - "Marilyn" by Amanda Lepore

Marilyn, she is dead. Marilyn, she is in my head.

Hey you out there and welcome to a new episode if "Music Minute". This time I got a song and a music video for you by Amanda Lepore, the probably most famous transsexual on the planet. I have written about Amanda before. And now I want you guys to enjoy a little song of hers called "Marilyn" which you can purchase (you should!) here. The song it self is a mixture of pop with rock and electronic elements. 

Picture by Vimeo. Copyright by Peace Bisquit, Amanda Lepore and all the restrictive owners.

Lepore sing about Madonna, Britney and Einstein and compares Marilyn to all of them. She states that she is the rue icon and generally creates Monroe as a person which had all these abilities So she makes Monroe this really superior being. Also Cazwell raps about Monroe taking pills, drinking champagne and her career. So the pay homage to what Monroe represented. In the video Lepore reenacts the last photo session of Monroe, where she did semi nude photographs, and a party. Also we see Lepore posing as a dead Monroe on the bed, and have a paparazzi discover here. The video is very sensual and sexual and Cazwell is included in a scene filming men making out, which apparently turns him on. So we really depict the video as an homage to the lifestyle the figure Monroe represented. Id say that the video is really beautiful and a different approach to the last few hours of Monroe. But not from the historical perspective rather more form the perspective of sexuality and an overdose of erotic.

Video is property of the owner. Copyright by Amanda Lepore,

Cazwell, Peace Bisquit and others involved.