Activity: Queer Responses
- What examples from the past or recent history of queer representation can you find in your artform? How is queerness represented? Would you say it is authentic representation? How does intersectionality complicate the representation?
A Bigger Splash, 1967 The chaotic water ripples on the screen are in stark contrast to the comfortable figures. David Hockney believes that the “sunshine pool” means a place where he can show himself openly and watch other people’s bodies. A gay utopia – no hiding, no shame. David Hockney never specifically emphasized the impulse between men and men but described same-sex life as an ordinary life, with nothing unusual, taboo, or fuss.
The queer community is a special existence even today. Everyone in the world has to negotiate and coordinate their lives. We don’t forget our identities, but we can have multiple identities and interests at the same time. Sexual orientation is only a small part of a person’s life. We can care about it, or we can dismiss it completely. It boils down to one thing: live freely.
- In many of the examples listed this week, comedy and a light-hearted approach was used in both positive and negative ways. Think about all of the examples we’ve looked at from the past few weeks. What role do you think comedy will play in your particular creative practice? How do you approach things that are worth laughing at? Do you think comedy can be used as a weapon in your work to push a political agenda?
Compared with rigid preaching, people obviously prefer light-hearted and joyful content. The comic expression makes all kinds of information easy to disseminate and easy to remember and shortens the distance from the audience.
Comic slogans are one of the means of government governance—communicating with the masses in a flexible rather than coercive way to achieve the purpose of persuading the masses.
- Finally, we’ve reached the end of another module. Take a look at your definition of cultural responsibility from week one and week four. How would you revise it now? You can extend it to a paragraph if you wish.
Different cultures are allowed to coexist without homogenization. Recognize the equal value of different cultures and grant equal political, social, and cultural status to all sociocultural groups.
