Masculine, Feminine, Art
The problem in defining masculinity and femininity is treating them as two opposites. Not every man is devoid of “feminine” traits and females are likewise prone to exhibit traits defined as “masculine.” It wouldn’t be natural or appropriate to hold everyone up to a Hollywood movie’s example of what it means to be a man or woman. It’s beneficial to understand how deeply complex we are as humans.
It’s frustrating to see people become categorized for society’s convenience. There is a stressed produced when society imposes an expectation on how we should behave. A man exhibiting a feminine trait shouldn’t be immediately regarded as foolish or gay, but rather exploring a different aspect of his character. It sounds funny or even uncomfortable to even explain this concept because of how we’ve been conditioned as a society.
Society is quick to label something that is complex and not easily understood because it makes the unknown less mysterious. People fear what they do not understand and are quick to judge something because it aids in making a new concept more familiar in relation to an established prejudice.
Art is the same in that it can’t be defined. While most people will not consciously say how they feel about a piece of art from an artist, there is often an unspoken expectation attached to the creator. If a man likes to draw pictures of flowers, then let him do so. If a woman wants to draw a picture of something aggressive, then let her do so. Life and art should be free of an established association in relation to gender.
Modern society has a strange imbalance of pretending that it’s accepting of new ideas for the sake of being “progressive.” However, stigmas and prejudices are just further flying under the radar without being talked about. As long as there are differences in the world, people are going to argue with each other about what’s right and acceptable.
We’re all created to be unique and we should act as such individually. This isn’t an excuse to allow for irresponsibility. It’s an encouragement to be unique and in touch with who we were created to be. If we suppress a certain part of our character, it’s going to throw our lives out of balance. We shouldn’t be ashamed to share our talents just because they aren’t popular by society’s standards.
For related reading, please check out: Your Impact as an Artist.
