Through reading and observation, I have realized that my problem lies within the gap between young gay men (facing scrutiny) and successful gay men (have made names for themselves but still face scrutiny). Interviewing both parties and possibly staging conversations between the two will be valuable to me. I will learn current concerns of young gay men who have yet to make their mark. I will get hindsight from older gay men who are currently leading lives closer to less-scrutinized heterosexual men.
I continue observation:
I have begun watching several blogs that cover gay social/political issues and have consistent/coherent/intelligent feedback. Both the content and the responses to the content are invaluable and have begun to steer me in the right direction. I am getting to know my stakeholders (and possible users?).
Similarly, I continue to watch the polls/questions on Connexion.com.
I have aslo begun watching Queer as Folk. I have never seen this television show. I plan on using it to identify characters (stereotypes?) within my project. I am taking notes specifically on etiquette.
I have reached out to Melissa R. Burtt, former curator of Brooklyn Museum. She is on the Parson’s Exhibition and Public Policy Program Committee. She has also served in the Scholar-in-Residence Program at the Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem. In other words, she has a wealth of knowledge about socially aware art and exhibitions. I think it would be invaluable for me to see how fine artists have tackled social issues similar to mine. I am inspired by this work by Glenn Ligon:
In the same vein, I have begun to research specific products and ceremonies linked to homosexuality. For instance, the number and color of badges for gay men during Hitler’s reign was black and 175. After the Holocaust, the pink triangle emerged. It was then re-appropriated as a black triangle for lesbian women.
Other color codes exist in the homosexual world. For instance, bandanas were used in the 1980s as sex/gender role identifiers for gay men. They were placed in the back pocket of jeans. Color, position, and state of knottedness were all indications of interest and levels wherein.
My goals over the next week are to go above and beyond the feedback I received today, which was dedicate more time (like you did last week). And I will.
I will make cold calls, visit all of my organizations, and document gay product design history. I will also continue to have etiquette as my lens. It is a helpful de-mystifier.
Additionally, I will produce Carlos T’s tables and charts.
2 comments:
Hi Rob,
A very thoughtful, honest post. I agree that you need to continue trying to research this topic, and find out as much as you can about existing examples of gay social conventions that have been codified as points of etiquette. I'm not sure that the bandanna thing rises to that level, and it may be that you are not able to identify specific examples of gay etiquette, but that's OK; if you were able to find tons of examples, that might suggest that another investigation of this type is not needed. But I think you have done a superb job of arguing in favor of new products dealing with this topic, so I would recommend that you start looking at models in the straight world (or at least the world of non-specific sexuality, if such a world exists). You have looked at Amy Vanderbilt, but that's a book, not a tangible product, so if I were you I would shift gears and gather information on products that you may want to emulate (or distance yourself from). Certainly, the greeting card thing is an example of products that support people's efforts to follow etiquette. Various gift registries also are all about acting in a proper way, and these fit your definition of etiquette as a set of rules or recommendations that are intended to smooth our the rough edges of our social interactions.
I hope this is helpful.
steven
Yes--very heplful, Steven!
I'll get right on it.
Rob
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