omitted from the public record

[egypturnash]

Brief article on Trans/Giving.

I wasn't mentioned. Waaah! I guess this reviewer mostly wanted to focus on the gender issues stuff, and while they're in my art, they're way below the surface. Ah well. There were other performers not mentioned, of course. I do find it interesting that only one of the four people mentioned didn't have gender issues on the surface of what they do. I guess that's the subtle expectation of going to a show themed on transies - the viewer wants to see commentary on binary gender from someone well on the outside.

Comments

[kamenkyote.livejournal.com]

Vaguely related, I got a surprise call from one of my old bosses last night (worked in a comic store she and another started in the early 70s, have known her for close to 20 years). I didn't recognize her voice at once, and asked her, "Barbara?" The reply was, "well, it's either E.B. or Ethan, now." We had a long chat, though he wants me to read an article he wrote for a Minneapolis magazine about the whole change first before we talk about the "big change." I mentioned that I'd learned a bit about TS issues through reading your LJ and such. So, thanks, Peggy, for helping me understand things better as it will make a transition with this old friend that much easier.

-T'

[shatterstripes.livejournal.com]

I guess that's part of why I'm writing about this. To make it not seem so damn weird. To give people some idea of why we go through all this hassle.

I'm glad it's helped, and made it easier for you to accept this old friend crossing the same void, going in the other direction.

[dsch.livejournal.com]

I think it would probably be a good idea if these sorts of trans festivals and reviews thereof did focus just as much on creativity that isn't immediately or exclusively related to gender identity issues. While it's very important that some transpeople do produce works directly on those themes to help the general public understand some of the concepts and thoughts behind being TG, it's also important that the public--and other transpeople--see that gender is not the only topic of creative output. That any TG person could produce awesome vector art or compositions for full orchestra or philosophical novels etc. is an important point to make, to show that TG people are normal people who shouldn't be looked at weirdly and who can make just as valid of a contribution to any field on any theme than someone who is happy with his/her birth gender.
If that makes any sense.
That said, I'd have a feeling I'd want to avoid such festivals altogether if I ever get the guts to transition, as I would want any work I produce to be recognized (or ignored) based solely on its musical merit as opposed to the fact that the composer is TG.

[shatterstripes.livejournal.com]

*nod* The focus of this event is on 'art that happens to be by trans people', not 'art by trans people about the transition'. I was unsure if I should participate at first because the gut instinct is 'about the transition', not 'happens to be by trans folks'.

I'm ambiguous on how I feel about being part of things like this. On the one hand, any avenue to more eyeballs is good, and something like this can make the point you suggest - that people going through this weird, scary, taboo-breaking change are still people, with many other facets and skills - but I can also see being stamped as a "trans artist", which has a bit of "look at the freak" lurking there.

I think I'll participate in such things on and off in the future, but I certainly don't want queer-only shows to be my only venues.

I have also determined that I don't want to make art that directly references the transition because every trans artist seems to do that, and I hate going along with the crowd! There's only a few dozen easy gags about transition, and everyone makes 'em if they start doing transition comics.