In my work I am documenting the
"Bear Culture"... a subculture of the gay community. Bears are hairy, heavyset
men self-defined as truly male, independent, and real. This form of culture tends to clash
with the many male stereotypes imposed by mass culture, the media, and the larger gay
culture. My works seek to examine these previous definitions and redefine them in personal
terms. The work addresses the need for greater cultural diversity and a redefinition of
masculinity. In the plainest terms, I am engaging in a formal study of the true male
figure and persona.
Why is our society so afraid to look at the male form? And when male figures are provided,
why should they be so limited aesthetically, erotically, emotionally, and socially? |