Queer men of color on accessing and expressing maleness through the arts.
As filmmakers and creatives in other art forms, we are often reflecting upon the impact of our inspiration. How often do we know the origin of our opinions and how do these align with the status quo? Throughout this process, we connected deeply when others shared with us the trajectory of their art creation.
In the exploration and dissection of the impact of subject-object relating versus subject-subject consciousness, we find the concept of visual art particularly effective in deconstructing masculinity with its visual desire that we know to be deeply rooted in sexual identity. In many ways the exploration of masculinity and its healing by two producers who identify as men for this very project (Mapping Masculinity) is great insight into this. Surely, we are informed by what we know. But how far do we push ourselves to see beyond? The experience of masculinity for these artists reflects that.
These painters, drawers, writers and filmmakers explore and share how their gaze, their vantage point and their trauma makes for cathartic art creation. They explore physical beauty ideals and the consequential self-esteem and dysmorphia, projections of desired intimacy and affection beyond the sexualization of the male body by the male gaze, and how the fetishization and dismissal of BIPOC bodies makes for an isolating and self-harming experience.
All of these conversations are with men - trans, queer, and cis - who identify as BIPOC, and, or immigrants in the United Statian experience.