Gender specific design

[Patt Bell]

I am teaching a class and would like to include information on the differences in masculine and feminine design. For example: bold vs pastel, straight line vs curved. I would appreciate any input you may have, and of course, I need it immediately, if not sooner http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif! Thanks.

[kemshmi]

please define masculine and feminine http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/confused.gif

kemshmi

[llis]

No, Patt, I disagree with design being put into catagories of feminine or masculine. I think that you or anyone would be hard pressed to look at a piece of art work and tell with out any doubt that the artist was feminine or masculine. If you are speaking from just the design aspect, I still disagree. You could say that a piece has a feminine or masculine slant, but that also depends on each persons idea of what being feminine or masculine is.

Have your class look at different works of art and tell you if they think it is feminine or masculine. I bet you will have a debate on your hands. We are a diverse people and as such have diverse attitudes. I think your task is impossible.

Roses on the bedsheets? We'll, I think most girls would love it, but then again guys have been known to choose roses over stripes or plaids. Feminine and masculine design is a matter of taste, and we all have our slants. Curves can be masculine....so that is out, right? Straight lines can be feminine.....so that is out, right? Pastels...the same way. Our observations bring with them the total sum of who we are and our reactions to any design lays within these bounds.

A better question, in my opinion, would be "why do we think pink is for girls." Of course, it is because that is what we are taught. But, don't you agree, it doesn't have to be that way.

What a wonderful debate for your class. It really will get them to thinking. I know it did me. http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif

[llis]

GMTA, Kemshmi. lol

[This message has been edited by llis (edited January 25, 2000).]

[Patt Bell]

I guess that I should have been more specific about the type of class that this is! I agree that masculine/feminine are subjective terms, and that it would be impossible to nail down specifically what makes a design appeal to a man or woman. This particular class is just 2 hrs. long and is aimed at craft retailers/professional crafters. It is a hands on craft class. The purpose was just to give some broad generalities to make them start to think about the types of projects they are offering and to open up their thinking a little.

I find the topic very interesting, and may delve into it in more detail with my on going decorative painting class in the future, but for now, I just want to offer a little fluff.

[Keith Halonen]

Perhaps feminine & masculine are PIC terms. How about yin & yang? Or as the Chinese martial arts say internal & external? Or as the Japanese say soft (ju) & hard (go)?

Seriously, these differences in martial arts might be described in similar terms. The soft, internal, yin styles involve arcing movements, sweeping movements, pokes, slaps, jabs, and intricate actions. The hard, external, yang styles involve straight-line thrusts, lunging movements, brutal punches, stomps, and chops, all fairly straightforward non-intricate actions.

You might dissuade some students from attending by using gender references. On the other hand you might attract others.

As to a significant difference between such approaches in art, I am at a loss. For what it's worth, I prefer drinking coffee as I paint rather than tea.

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Keith (http://www.sonic.net/finearts/index.html)

[belladonna]

I have found that the only thing gender specific is subject matter. I paint all kinds of things, and it seems that men and women have gender based preferences to SOME, (not all), of my paintings. “Packenham Bridge”, (http://www.geocities.com/belladonna_s/packenhampage.html), appeals more to men than women. I asked my hubby about this and he said, “ It would be the perfect place to make a camp.
Heavy Metal, (http://www.geocities.com/belladonna_s/heavypage.html), also appeals to more men than women. Again, hubby said it is instinct based, fighting and drinks.
On the other hand, Jennifer Rose, (http://www.geocities.com/belladonna_s/jennypage.html), and paintings of flowers seem to apeal to more women.
Where my other paintings are concerned, there are no gender differences that I have noticed.

[kayemme]

there is a great topic on this in the debate forum "women & the arts" that has proven lengthy and informative for those of you who want to really dive into this subject http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif



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km (http://www.artistnation.com/members/lofts/kmarion/)

[Allaprima]

Feminist Art is generally thought to be art that' defines and validates the female experience." For me its most evident when viewing portraits of women. Male artists, even the great ones tend to objectify woman in there paintings, using them as decoration, Hate to name names but..Monet,Bonnard, Picasso Gaugin, Whisler,Hokusi ,basically all
male artist do this while most female artist tent to give humanity and purpose to there female subjects..ie Kolwitz, Frida Kallo,Cassett, La Brune,check it out next time your in a museum. Its sort of objective vs subjective interpretation, I like both genders art, but they are different.