emilie_rainbow (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
emilie_rainbow) wrote2009-08-19 05:58 pm
emilie_rainbow) wrote2009-08-19 05:58 pm
Who wants to help me withmy feminist studies homework? 8D
Okay kids, so I am in a rather awesome class called "Gender and Cultural Politics". It's basically all about the various ways one can be feminist through cultural politics and productions rather than traditional political venues. We talk about the Spice Girls and their meaning to feminism, whether or not prostitution and pornography are bad for women, and we watch a lot of Tyra. Like I said, rather awesome.
Now, for our final project we're supposed to create a counter-hegemonic cultural product, IE some kind of cultural artifact that in some way destabilizes or destroys the way mainstream society views sex and/or gender. So people are creating feminist beauty pageants, outlining a feminist porn project, writing stories for little kids about masturbation, etc. I have decided to create a counter-hegemonic Lolita ad campaign!
So that was a lot of feministy jargon, so I'm sure y'all are wondering what it means and what it has to do with you. My project is essentially going to be creating an ad for a Lolita line that is fundamentally different from what we usually see. I'm not going to have pictures of girls standing demurely with a parasol, or reading a book by lacy curtains. And certainly no girls turned into human candy commodities! I want real Lolitas doing real things, especially counter-intuitive things. So everything from pumping gas to reading playboy. Lolitas dancing, Lolitas reading comic books, Lolitas giving the finger, Lolitas holding activist signs and shouting, Lolitas mowing the lawn, Lolitas doing anything that someone who doesn't know anything about a Lolita would assume a Lolita wouldn't do.
Here's where you come in! Send me pictures of you doing counter-hegemonic things! Send me pictures of you looking trashy! Looking strong! Looking tough! Looking sexay! Looking anyway that isn't the assumed ideal of demure, dainty, and softly feminine.
Also, I doubt I have to say this, but this project IN NO WAY reflects my opinions on the Lolita as a lifestyle vs. a fashion debate, or even what I think about Lolita advertisement. I like the ads, I have a bunch of them on my wall, I think they're beautiful. I also don't think there is anything wrong with choosing to dress a certain way and follow a lifestyle that fits with that fashion choice. They're both expressions of who you are inside, and if you're dainty and like tea and cupcakes, more power to you. The point of this project is just to create something that is outside the norm and challenges assumptions that people may make about a person based on their gender and how they choose to perform it. Lolitas, based on looks alone, are choosing to perform their gender in a very traditionally feminine way. But that, of course, does not mean that all of us are classically feminine in our lives and I find this dichotomy very interesting. Ambiguity destabilizes, and by dressing one way and acting a completely different way you are challenging gender stereotypes. That is the point of this project. It DOES NOT mean that I don't love me some tea and cake and listening to classical music while I read A Little Princess by lacy curtains. I love that, too, and it's destabilizing in it's whole own way that would require more thought for me to articulate. I'm just trying to counter the way Lolita is typically marketed to it's audience.
Okay, that got really long. Been reading too much theory in between episodes of Tyra, or something. But, anywhoo, I want all y'all to help me in my endeavor! They don't need to be nice pictures, just a quick snap of you doing something outrageous/outside the norm/unexpected. Or even just looking unexpected, like stompy boots with sweet Lolita or a shaved head in hime. Help a sista out. It's due next Friday.
Thanks, dudes. :)
Now, for our final project we're supposed to create a counter-hegemonic cultural product, IE some kind of cultural artifact that in some way destabilizes or destroys the way mainstream society views sex and/or gender. So people are creating feminist beauty pageants, outlining a feminist porn project, writing stories for little kids about masturbation, etc. I have decided to create a counter-hegemonic Lolita ad campaign!
So that was a lot of feministy jargon, so I'm sure y'all are wondering what it means and what it has to do with you. My project is essentially going to be creating an ad for a Lolita line that is fundamentally different from what we usually see. I'm not going to have pictures of girls standing demurely with a parasol, or reading a book by lacy curtains. And certainly no girls turned into human candy commodities! I want real Lolitas doing real things, especially counter-intuitive things. So everything from pumping gas to reading playboy. Lolitas dancing, Lolitas reading comic books, Lolitas giving the finger, Lolitas holding activist signs and shouting, Lolitas mowing the lawn, Lolitas doing anything that someone who doesn't know anything about a Lolita would assume a Lolita wouldn't do.
Here's where you come in! Send me pictures of you doing counter-hegemonic things! Send me pictures of you looking trashy! Looking strong! Looking tough! Looking sexay! Looking anyway that isn't the assumed ideal of demure, dainty, and softly feminine.
Also, I doubt I have to say this, but this project IN NO WAY reflects my opinions on the Lolita as a lifestyle vs. a fashion debate, or even what I think about Lolita advertisement. I like the ads, I have a bunch of them on my wall, I think they're beautiful. I also don't think there is anything wrong with choosing to dress a certain way and follow a lifestyle that fits with that fashion choice. They're both expressions of who you are inside, and if you're dainty and like tea and cupcakes, more power to you. The point of this project is just to create something that is outside the norm and challenges assumptions that people may make about a person based on their gender and how they choose to perform it. Lolitas, based on looks alone, are choosing to perform their gender in a very traditionally feminine way. But that, of course, does not mean that all of us are classically feminine in our lives and I find this dichotomy very interesting. Ambiguity destabilizes, and by dressing one way and acting a completely different way you are challenging gender stereotypes. That is the point of this project. It DOES NOT mean that I don't love me some tea and cake and listening to classical music while I read A Little Princess by lacy curtains. I love that, too, and it's destabilizing in it's whole own way that would require more thought for me to articulate. I'm just trying to counter the way Lolita is typically marketed to it's audience.
Okay, that got really long. Been reading too much theory in between episodes of Tyra, or something. But, anywhoo, I want all y'all to help me in my endeavor! They don't need to be nice pictures, just a quick snap of you doing something outrageous/outside the norm/unexpected. Or even just looking unexpected, like stompy boots with sweet Lolita or a shaved head in hime. Help a sista out. It's due next Friday.
Thanks, dudes. :)
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http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i107/megster1989/fanime/SD530484.jpg
Good luck with your project :)
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