Artist as Performer: Performing Masculinities

Question 1

Key Questions

- Masochistic tendencies

Answer 1

• How is masculinity staged in performance art by men?
• Do masochistic (enjoying an activity that appears to be painful or tedious) tendencies in performance art by men challenge or reinforce the heroic identity of the artist?
• Do violent acts on the male body support the unified, strong, powerful, authorial body OR do these violent acts undermine the idea of masculinity through violation and destructing its physical form?

Question 3

Dis/playing the phallus: male artists perform their masculinities (1994) by Amelia Jones
- Phallic symbolism

Answer 3

• Jones argues that a phallus (a penis) is a key symbol of the patriarchy (something that symbolises order) - normally invisible (symbol of masculine identity).
• However, only has its power through being veiled (e.g. exaggerated phallic shapes)

Question 4

‘Anthropomteries’ (1960) by Yves Klein (1928-1962)

• Who was Yves Klein?
• Description of the artwork

Answer 4

Who? Yves Klein was a French artist, who was the pioneer in development of performance art.
What? Still photograph of the performance. Klein directing naked women covered in paint to press themselves against the paper in front of an audience. He would wear a bow-tie and suit and in the background musicians would play his Monotone symphony.

Question 5

In Relation to the Text: ‘Anthropomteries’ (1960) by Yves Klein (1928-1962)

• Masterful control (highly coded)
• The symbol of the female body

Answer 5

• Jones argues that Klein exerts masterful control over the women’s bodies.
• Asserts his mastery by assigning himself as the authority - he displays the phallus - Jones argues - in a highly coded way.
• The female body becomes the fetishised phallic substitute.

Question 6

‘Trans-Fixed’ (1974) by Chris Burden (1946-2015)

• Who was Chris Burden
• Description of artwork

Answer 6

Who? Chris Burden was an American artist working in performance, sculpture and installation art.
What? The artist had his hands nailed to the back of a Volkswagen Beetle, as if he was reenacting the crucifixion of Jesus.

Question 7

In Relation to the Text: ‘Trans-Fixed’ (1974) by Chris Burden (1946-2015)

• Temporary test
• The term triumphant

Answer 7

• Jones argues, it is a ‘temporary test’.
• For example, when Burden nailed himself to the car it is a temporary test where the male body is put under strain temporarily but usually emerges triumphantly.