(Mud)masked Men

By: Jessica Rose Cleary

Contact: abooneystar@hotmail.com

All across Western Europe, behind bolted doors, a new phenomenon is evolving…

Previous eras have separated men and women into two strict binary categories; femininity involving babies, baking and beautifying and masculinity involving breadwinning, beer and balls. Judith Butler sparked my interest in exploring the subject of masculinity, arguing that rigid definitions of gender based on dated stereotypes are unrealistic and that each of us has the right to choose what identity we bring into being, despite biological physicality.

A rising amount of men are teetering into classically feminine territory, where hair straighteners and a good exfoliator are joining the spanner in the toolbox. Inspired by photographers such as Martin Parr and David Graham, I endeavour to represent an undeniable activity among heterosexual men who would prefer their habitual narcissism not to be documented or their sexuality scrutinized. I also comment how consumerism in incessant in Western culture, where intimidating airbrushed images are not only pressurising women, but men are now also being targeted my marketers. Not gay, but unafraid of cosmetics, meet the Meterosexuals.

 

 

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