Final Project Proposal: Vicky Liu

    For my exhibition project, I want to explore the controversy of an LGBTQ+ curriculum in education, primarily elementary and secondary school. Ironically, this topic was inspired by an argument I had with my boyfriend. Because I am queer and he is heterosexual and cisgender, our experiences are different. It wasn’t until further into the argument that I understood his viewpoint. I didn’t realize I was queer until sometime in the middle of the 2020 quarantine, as there was not much representation or exposure in my community during my younger years. Thus, I believe that to understand the experiences of those that are marginalized, one must educate themselves and be aware of the world around them.

    Using Vicki L. Eaklor’s Queer America: A People’s GLBT History of the United States as a starting point, I will highlight the similarities of the LGBTQ rights history with womens’ rights movement and the civil rights movement. Individuals I know will be interviewed and their responses will be included in the exhibition, since it’s important to understand firsthand experiences. I will advocate for schools having a LGBTQ+ curriculum, and include and try to refute the arguments against such a curriculum. I will interview individuals from both sides of the arguments, and I want to survey peers my age and younger to get their experiences and compile their responses together into a report.

Final Project Idea - Jordan Knisely

Animation as a whole has had a huge impact on my life. I have been watching cartoons for as long as I can remember, and I now am pursuing a career in background and character design for animation. It is quite simply a huge part of my life. I have noticed that as of late, queer characters in animation have been a huge topic of discussion among animation lovers. In today’s age, we are finally able to get some representation of the LGBTQ+ community, but back then it was a lot harder for directors and creators to include them in their works. Animation is a really important part of my journey to finding out who I am and helped me come out of the closet to my parents and friends. I love seeing representation of people like me in animation, as it makes me feel seen. I know kids would love to have more representation for minorities so they can feel seen too.

For my project, I would like to discover the history of queer and trans characters in animation. I want to find out who these characters were, if they were good representations, why the animation team added them, and so on. I would love to know how far back the first queer character in animation is brought to life and compare them to some of the characters I know and love today. Has the animation industry changed since then? Has it grown? I know some of these answers, but I want to take a deeper look into the history behind queer characters in the animation industry.

Sam U. February 26, 2024 “Food for Thought” Sam Uroza

 The topic of religion being discussed within the same stance of the LGBT community has always been difficult. Many struggled and questioned their relationship with their correlating religious beliefs as some chose to break off from it completely or found a way to work within their traditions. Some would just outright create LGBT accepting religious groups that welcome all in the community. Christian denominations, Reform and Reconstructionist Jews, the Episcopal Church, the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Quakers have all been surprisingly welcoming and accepting of the queer community. They have blessed same sex unions, ordained openly gay clergies, and eventually performed same sex marriages. While some followers or even higher upper officials within the church disagreed with these acts, it has never stopped these institutions from keeping from what they’re doing as they deem that the word of god is meant to be accepting of all and “loving your neighbor”. As the website of the Unity Fellowship Church Movement states, “looking for a church home that is rooted in spirituality and not in religion, one that celebrates all of God’s diverse creation . . . . At Unity Fellow- ship Church, we know that God created us just as we are: Black, White, Latino, Native American, Asian, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, intersexed, or straight”.

Sam U. February 24, 2024 “Food for Thought” Sam Uroza

 The topic of whether or not the education of the queer community should be accepted and integrated into our education system is one that is still being debated today. In the 90’s, as the recognition of the queer community grew, several higher education institutions created offices devoted for minority groups including the LGBT community as well as increasing courses and programs devoted to LGBT studies. By the 2000’s, about 20 institutions offered minor courses focusing on LGBT studies. Yet that doesn’t mean that the act of discrimination has decreased. There was resistance faced when courses were implemented in these institutions meant to acknowledge the queer community. This in turn created a systemic hostility between students and teachers. Even today the implementation of queer studies is faced with resistance as many deem it unnecessary and an act of “brainwashing” their children. Even if their resistance does little to change the institution's decision, they will influence their children in a negative manner to commit hate crimes against these minority groups as a way to retaliate. Sadly, many kids have been bullied, beaten, and even killed by fellow classmates simply for expressing their gender identity/sexuality. The most recent case being a nonbinary student killed by classmates in after school hours in the state of Oklahoma. 

Sam U. February 23, 2024 "Possible Topic Discussion for Exhibition Project"

 The history and coverage of the queer community is expansive and there are many topics I can talk about that really intrigue me. But recently what has caught my attention were the medical practices in sex reassignment surgery. People who are trans or even non-binary can opt in to receive gender affirming surgery to better feel affiliated with themselves as a person. Usually, in the case with FTM individuals, there a range of surgeries suited for them varying from: top surgery (double mastectomy), bottom surgery (phalloplasty, metoidioplasty, phalloplasty, scrotoplasty), facial reconstruction, removal of sexual organs (hysterectomy, salpingo-oophorectomy), voice masculinization, body contouring, and hair implants. As for MTF individuals, this can include: bottom surgery (vaginoplasty), top surgery (breast implants), facial reconstruction, orchiectomy, removal of sexual organs (orchiectomy), body contouring, voice feminization, tracheal shave, hair implants, and hair removal.

While some of these surgeries were developed and studied with trans people's benefits in mind, some of these have already existed long beforehand for cis gendered people, whether as a result from injury, illness, or aesthetic purposes. Yet, the history to get to where we are today with the advancement in these surgeries has not been easy. Many people have had to endure trial and error as they were subjected to these exploratory surgeries, some even dying due to infection. One example that comes to mind is a movie based on a true story called “The Danish Girl”, the story of the first ever transgender woman to undergo bottom surgery to construct a vagina, but dies due to complications as this surgery is the first to be performed. 

I want to uncover more on the history of how these surgeries went through medical trial and error to get the results we have today, to see how the trans community fought to gain this medical care that was willing to listen to them, and to see how these surgeries are criticized and put in a negative light as many conservatives state that these surgeries do nothing but mutilate a perfectly healthy body. 

Sam U. February 23, 2024 “Food for Thought” Sam Uroza

 With so much of the focus in our readings and viewings being on gay men, usually those who are also part of the queer community, lesbians, bisexuals, and trans people, are not given the same amount of attention that they deserve. Even as many in the queer community pointed out, the formation of the term GLBT shows how the order of these letters correlates with how much importance that each group actually has. 

Yet, transgender people did not face an issue with visibility like the others, but rather with being recognized. The term transgender in of itself has been a topic of discussion. Some coined it as an umbrella term for anyone not conforming to societal gender norms, regardless of the person's sexuality preference. This would include transvestites, transsexuals, and intersexual people. Although this term was deliberately labeled as such as it was meant to be used in political circumstances. And in political circumstances it was used as many lesbian feminists rejected MTF individuals on political grounds. However, trans activists were able to find and create their own organizations which gave them the recognition they deserve and the grounds to support others in their community.

Sam U. February 22, 2024 "Military Restrictions against the Queer Community"

 In chapter 8 of Eaklor’s “Queer America”, we get to see how the military’s ban and restrictions of accepting a gay person into the military affected the queer community. The military has always been strict on its requirements to see who is fit enough to join the military. Usually they turn away people for a disability, a chronic illness, or perhaps lacking the physical structure needed to perform diligently. However, they now deem being gay also a means to deny entry into the military forces. Even if you were already in the military, if you announce that you are openly gay, they then can discharge you without any compensation or an explanation. 

Such was the case for Sgt. Leonard Matlovich and Army Sgt. Miriam Ben-Shalom. Matlovich was a veteran for 12 years with several awards, yet the minute he came out as gay in a letter to the Air Force Secretary, the government found this as a way to deem him unfit and immediately discharged him. While he eventually earned compensation and an honorable discharge, he stated on his tombstone “When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men, and a discharge for loving one.”

In the case of Miriam, she was also discharged from the military for coming out as a lesbian. She was rightfully upset by this and sued to be reenlisted. However, the military made it difficult to reenlist her, refusing to comply with court orders. Only in 1988 did they reenlist her before dropping her again a year later. She took this opportunity to not reenlist again, but become one of the founding members of the “Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Veterans of America Inc.” in 1990, now called the “American Veterans for Equal Rights Inc”.

Sam U. February 19, 2024 “Food for Thought: Thinking about Warhol: Posted by Sam Uroza”

 Andy Warhol not only was known for his unique and colorful looking pieces and the significance they have behind them, but also with how he created such said pieces. He used to do traditional paintings by hand with a paint and brush, but he gained further recognition when he utilized the technique of silk screening to make his most popular pieces known to date. The act of silk screening is when a mix of ink is squeezed over a mesh with a picture of the subject as the silk screen sits on top of the canvas. The ink would pass through the mesh and imprint his image onto the canvas. Many artists have tried to replicate his techniques, but some found it rather difficult to do. This made his pieces even more unique and allowed them to stand on their own for a while. But as more experienced artists and eventually machines were able to easily replicate his work, they produced them on various objects to be sold in mass production. This is somewhat ironic as it plays into his whole interest behind the effects mass production and consumerism has on building a society. Besides this, he was also able to introduce a unique form of art making into the art community that with practice, anyone can replicate to make their own pop art pieces. We can already see how this was replicated as many fashion designers were able to print his pieces onto their own clothing. His pieces can still be seen being sold today everywhere and reminds us of his beliefs in the way consumerism affects the inner workings of a society and how even his own work plays a part in it.

Sam U. February 16, 2024 “Food for Thought: Thinking about Warhol: Posted by Sam Uroza”

 Warhol had a big influence in the Pop Art movement that it was able to find its way into the fashion industry and change it forever. Through his fascination with the topic of consumerism and celebrity idols, he created pieces such as “Campbell’s Soup Cans'' and portraits such as of “Marilyn Monroe'' that managed to look so unique and colorful that it inspired many fashion designers to adopt his techniques into their own creations. It made the fashion industry take a step back and re-evaluate exactly what they were creating. Warhol’s colorful pieces quite literally “popped” out to the eye, which is what the fashion industry wished to achieve with their own products to look appealing to the public. His ideas were then seen on catwalks with industries like Calvin Klein and Versacce, holding events where they display Warhol's pieces on several pieces of clothing. A couple of examples includes his “Campbell’s Soup Cans” painting being made into a dress by fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castlebajacs and his “Marilyn Monroe” painting being made into a gown by Naomi Campbell. 

Sam U. February 13, 2024 "Food for Thought: Thinking about Warhol: Posted by Sam Uroza”

 Andy Warhol as an artist had a significant influence on the fields of art, fashion, and pop culture. Even if he wasn’t openly expressing himself as a queer artist, his creations created an impact within and outside of the queer community that challenges societal norms. This central belief of his goes side by side with how the queer community in of itself also challenged societal norms, so both sides were able to build upon one another’s influences. Especially as his popularity started to grow, he was able to easily influence mass groups of people then and even now on how to embrace yourself as for who you are, that everyone is unique and to celebrate diversity. He heavily influenced the idea of individuality that many people find as a source of inspiration today and made people more accepting of one another’s differences. His works brought about a sense of unity within multiple communities including that of the queer community. 

Sam U. February 13, 2024 "Andy Warhol: The Complete Picture"

 After watching the film "Andy Warhol: The Complete Picture", I got more informed about the background of an iconic American artist who was essential in the Pop Art movement. We got to see how Warhol approached creating his artworks and used special techniques like silk screening to make pieces that delved into topics such as mass consumerism in America. At the same time as he was building his way into the Pop Art world, he also expressed some difficulty with his own identity and sexuality during a time where coming out openly as gay was heavily criticized. Despite this, his whole legacy revolved around him challenging societal norms through his artworks. His most outspoken opinions were on the topic of mass consumerism in America, as he created several pieces such as “Campbell’s Soup Cans”, “Brillo Boxes”, and “Coca-Cola” that speak upon this topic. These pieces brought about the question of how a society is built and revolves around mass production and consumption. Warhol's work is seen as a commentary on the influence consumerism has on individual identity and artistic expression as a whole.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx6tKujAAOY 

Vicky Liu: Food for thought

A Different Light gay bookstore in Castro closing

In the 20th century, there was a blossoming of lesbian/gay culture. Bookstores like A Different Light serve as a safe space for lesbian and gay individuals. The first store was opened in 1979, but by 2011, all chain A Different Light bookstores were closed due to larger bookstore companies with new LGBTQ sections that offered heavy discounts, like Barnes & Noble or Amazon.

How the Nazi Regime's Pink Triangle Symbol Was Repurposed for LGBTQ Pride

Pink and black triangles were used by Nazis to identify lesbians and gay individuals during the Holocaust. These two symbols were then adopted as positive symbols for a reminder of the past and for solidarity among lesbian and gay individuals.

The History of America's Gay Bathhouses and “Bathhouse Betty”

In the 20th century, gay bathhouses grew into centers that advocated for political and health activism, especially because of the HIV/AIDs epidemic. Similarly to gay bookstores, gay bathhouses served as a safe space, but many closed due to high rent and competition, as it's easier to arrange hookups online on dating apps rather than in person.

2/6/24 Assignment

Food For Thought: Final Project Ideas

These Clothes Make You Look Gay

Gender identity lessons, banned in some schools, are rising in others

The importance of queer musicians and how they’re carrying the music industry

Food for Thought: Queer Design Examples - Jordan Knisely Jan. 30th, 2024

 

Queer Design Examples: Jan. 30th, 2024

From the syllabus: "Each student should come to class with three examples of “queer design” that relate to these readings with 100-word discussions of them in relationship to mainstream, queer, and/or design cultures of the period under discussion in your readings."

Part 1 of 3

    Around this time, society was going through the hardships of The Cold War right after having to go through World War II. “Freedom” and “Freedom of choice” were popular ideologies around this time because of war. This idea was linked to family stereotypes, as the ideology was that men (husbands) make money for the family, while women (wives) took care of the family. You couldn’t have one without the other and “deviants”, as queer people were called, were pushed aside for these views. The “goal” among families was to reproduce and with queer couples, this was not achievable. Beyond this, femininity and masculinity were heavily pushed in society based on your assigned gender from birth. Straying away was seen as subversive and not “normal”.

A Nuclear Family - 1950s

Part 2 of 3

   World War II was a time when people were screened and determined if they were fit to fight in the war. Sex and gender variation behaviors and identities among queer folks caused people to see this idea as a mental illness, in turn making them ‘unfit’ for military service. Studies were designed by Dr. Evelyn Hooker to test whether gay men were any less “adjusted” than straight men. Her studies helped prove that homosexuality was not a mental illness. Today, some people still see homosexuality and queerness as a mental illness, and has become a political opinion among many of what queer people should and shouldn't be able to do.

"Coming Out Under Fire"

Part 3 of 3

    In the 60s, peace and love were big in hippie culture. Along with this, sex, drugs, and rock n' roll, were popular in this alternative counterculture. Men and women who were part of this political culture opposed the mainstream and advocated for "free love". Men especially in hippie culture violated gender roles/rules by having long hair, wearing "feminine" jewelry, etc. Music was a big part of this subculture, as certain bands aligned with these viewpoints and advocated for peace, nonviolence, and civil disobedience. Most famously, the Woodstock Music and Art Festival in upstate New York is known for popular rock performers who celebrate the values of peace and harmony among people. The Summer of Love in 1969 drew in hundreds of thousands of people to see rock artists perform at events.

Hippie Culture and Psychedelic Fashion

Tori Mather: 3 Final Project Ideas

 Based on the readings of Queer America, and the ideas that those readings inspired, the 3 contenders I want to consider for my final project are:

1. Queer Theory - The history, study, and application of the term Queer Theory, as well as the struggle to pin down exactly what can be defined as "queer theory."

2. Representation in media - The importance of including queer elements and characters in modern media, and the history of that inclusion, including in film, TV, and video games.

3. Online queer space - The history of the intersection between queer communities and online spaces and why they're so effective in nurturing that community. This includes online queer culture and terminology, and the foundations of specific internet niches that owe their origins in part to queer culture.

Final Idea

 Japanese media has always represented queer folk in such a unique way. Currently, gay marriage is illegal in Japan. While being queer isn’t necessarily illegal, it is improbable you’ll see a queer couple out in the open in public. Many queer folks were or are still being used as punchlines in Japanese media as a result and either being seen as nothing but a pervert or just an overall and unnatural creep. Japanese people aren’t hostile to queer folk but aren’t the most accepting of it either. Many people’s perspectives have been slowly changing these past couple of years. Japan as a country, is fairly queer-friendly with many gay bars, queer hang-outs, and pride parades.

“Boy’s Love” and “Girl’s Love” media are especially well-known.  Just as the name implies, it is media of men or two women who are sexually and/or romantically interested in each other. However, most often these media cater to those who fetishize queer folk. Not to say that this is always the case since a lot of queer folks create this queer content. Although, no matter who the original demographic is, content that is inherently queer, will also attract a queer audience. Despite some weird representations, LBTQ communities still enjoy these stories, having something to connect to.

There are often when, in the case, a queer couple does publicly show affection, they’ll be reduced to nothing but caricatures to others. In one such case, a man held hands with his boyfriend and was the subject of gossiping and squealing. (As “Boy’s Love” media is popular with the Japanese female audience.) They were treated like in-real-life characters of a fictional romance.

There is a lot to explore with this topic and how queer Japanese media has influenced Japanese people’s views on the queer community.

Food for Thought: Queer Design Examples - Jordan Knisely Jan. 23rd, 2024

Queer Design Examples: Jan. 23rd, 2024

From the syllabus: "Each student should come to class with three examples of “queer design” that relate to the assigned reading and be prepared to discuss them in relationship to mainstream, queer, and design cultures of the period under discussion in your readings. Post these examples with the heading: Food for Thought: Queer Design Examples and your name"

Based on the reading, I came up with three examples of queer design.

1. Queer musicians performing and creating lyrics that can be interpreted as queer.

2. Urban drag balls with performers portraying the opposite sex by dressing as them.

3. Queer community gatherings in churches, clubs, cafes, streets, and dance halls attached to saloons.

Maggie Ryan: Food for Thought, Final Project idea 3

 

Maggie Ryan: Food for Though, Final Project Idea 2

 

A lot of reasons have been cited for the shuttering of numerous lesbian bars across the United States. COVID, Financial and Societal prejudice against women. There's been rumors of a resurgence, too. It would be interesting to cover "The Rise and Fall (And Rise Again)" of lesbian bars and spaces for queer women. 

Maggie Ryan: Food for Thought, final project idea 1

 

"The Homosexuals" Film Statements - Jordan Knisely Jan. 16th 2023

 10 statements of what we were supposed to think about queer people and as a reflection of what the American value was at that point in time.

1. It is an enigma that people find disturbing.

2. More harmful to society than abortion and prostitution and it is a ‘condition’

3. People think of them as some kind of creature. People are beaten inhumanely.

4. It is something that needs psychotherapy and jail time. They are “sick”.

5. ⅔ Americans look at them with fear. The majority of Americans favor jail time for homosexual acts.

6. A deviation in normalcy that can be cured.

7. Seen as just as bad as second-degree murderers.

8. As a Christian it is wrong and sinful, but most will not try to “help” him

9. “Crush the monster”

10. “We need to solve the problem, not tolerate the problem”

"Food for Thought: Queer Design Examples” Lambda symbol - Xingyu Wang

 

In the aftermath of the Stonewall riots, a significant design case was the adoption of the Lambda (λ) symbol in the 1970s by the LGBTQ+ community as a symbol of liberation and unity, reflecting the movement's pursuit of change and hope.

Background: The Lambda symbol was initially adopted by the gay liberation movement in the 1970s as a symbol representing strength, unity, and resistance. The choice was partly due to the use of λ in mathematics and physics to represent change and energy, making it a powerful symbol of the community's determination to change the status quo.

Design: The Lambda symbol is simple, clear, and easily recognizable, which facilitated its rapid spread within LGBTQ+ communities worldwide. Its minimalist yet powerful design allows for versatile representation across various mediums and materials, from badges and flags to public art.

Impact: The adoption and proliferation of the Lambda symbol not only strengthened the sense of identity within the LGBTQ+ community but also served as an outward declaration of their pursuit of equality, respect, and freedom. It has been adopted by numerous LGBTQ+ organizations, including the International Gay Rights Congress, as a symbol of resistance against discrimination and a fight for rights.

"Food for Thought: Queer Design Examples” Fashion - Xingyu Wang

 Deconstructing Gender and Transformations in the Fashion Industry The fashion industry in the 1970s began to show trends of deconstructing gender, with designers challenging societal gender norms through designs that blurred gender lines. Designers like Vivienne Westwood and Jean Paul Gaultier explored gender fluidity with their designs, challenging gender stereotypes through the mix-and-match of styles. These designs not only reflected the LGBTQ  community's exploration of gender expression at the time but also had a lasting impact on the fashion industry.

"Food for Thought: Queer Design Examples” The Stonewall Riots - Xingyu Wang

The Stonewall Riots and the LGBTQ  Rights Movement The Stonewall Riots of 1969 marked a turning point in the American LGBTQ  rights movement and symbolized the transformation in the field of design and art. Afterward, LGBTQ -related designs and artworks became more open and politicized, with many designers and artists using their work to explore and reflect the struggles and victories of the LGBTQ  community. Visual art from this period, including posters, flyers, and magazine covers, became tools for protest and identity expression.

"Food for Thought: Queer Design Examples” - Xingyu Wang

From the mid-20th century to the 1970s, the LGBTQ+ community experienced significant changes in design and culture, especially during the era of Andy Warhol. This period not only witnessed the rise of the LGBTQ+ rights movement but also saw challenges to traditional notions of gender and sexual orientation in art and design.

The Rise of Pop Art and Gender Fluidity: The Pop Art movement, with Andy Warhol as a leading figure, challenged mainstream aesthetics and gender stereotypes. Warhol's works, such as his "Marilyn Monroe series" and "Elvis Presley series," presented these icons in non-traditional ways, challenging conventional gender boundaries. These pieces not only showcased gender fluidity but also reflected the LGBTQ+ community's exploration of gender identity and expression.

Lesbian Herstory Archives

The Leslie Lohman Museum

Jim Bailey on Primetime TV in the 1970's