Background information
"The term 'gender' stands for the construction of gender through upbringing and socialization. Gender is largely shaped by the repetition of behavioral patterns. Through the repetition of performative acts, society reinforces entrenched role patterns from day to day. Through atypical behavior, 'gender benders' attempt to break up and mix these rigid gender roles. In this way, 'gender benders' act as the creative flaw in the system. 'I want to criticize and poke fun at the roles of women and of men too. I want to try and show how not-normal I can be. I want to ridicule and destroy the whole cosmology of restrictive sex roles and sexual identification.' (Christopher Lonc, in: Genderfuck and Its Delights. Gay Sunshine 21, Spring 1974). Judith Butler, the author of the book 'Gender Trouble', also posed the question at the beginning of her work as to whether travesty simply imitates the construction of gender roles or whether the intention of travesty is to draw attention to the artificiality of gender roles. This work is intended to act as a mouthpiece for the scene and confront the viewer with his or her own construction. Content
The self-published publication 'Gender Bender' by Lisa Diandra KRUEGER shows people who see the gender assigned to them at birth as an inadequate description of themselves. 'Gender Bender' rebels against rigid role-specific gender categorizations. The people portrayed are portrayed in their familiar surroundings, within the appearance of their alter ego, and are therefore tainted with a certain artificiality. This artificiality is focused on through the use of flash. The people not only reveal their own artificiality through the role, but also emphasize the artificiality of society's role models. At the same time, they make people aware that it is up to the individual to decide which roles they take on and how they deal with them." (© Lisa Diandra KRUEGER, 2013)About German photographer, Lisa Diandra KRUEGER
Photo books by Lisa Diandra KRUEGER
- Format
- SC (staple bound, no dust jacket,as issued), 21 x 30 cm., 32 pp., color ills. (offset), English