My Favorite Executive Transvestite
I would lick the make-up off this man’s face any day! Why? Because there is something absolutely mesmerizing to me about a man who fucks with my notions about what a man should look like. I am not turned on by transvestites per se, but I am turned on by a man who challenges common assumptions about gender boundaries in the specific way this man does. He is not trying to “pass” as a woman or make a case for being anything other than which he already is. He’s just a (straight) man who sometimes chooses to wear women’s clothes; he is, as he puts it: “all boy, plus extra girl.”
You know how bloggers write those 100-things-about-me lists? Well, I guess you could consider Eddie Izzard as one item on the All About Elizavetta list:
77. . . .
78. I like my men straight, with extra girl.
79. . . .
Actually, the reason I’m posting this just now is because I have been lately examining the performative nature of gender. I’m wondering if this is a meaningful theory (to me) and if looking through the lens of this theory will allow me another view of how I “perform” the role of woman, and/or how I expect men to perform the role of man.
I am planning to write a longer piece on all of this later. In the meantime, enjoy Eddie Izzard. He’s not just another pretty comedian. . .
Hmm. That’s interesting, lovely Elizavetta. In a related context, I’m currently exploring C.G. Jung’s theory of Anima/Animus projection… we certainly lose as individuals when we try to categorise people solely according to their gender. In reality, we should strive to integrate the complexities of our animae to achieve wholeness and harmony. More here:
http://www.cnr.edu/home/bmcmanus/anima.html
Much love,
orchidea xxx
lol! My first thought before I read sweet orchidea’s comment was Jung’s Anima/Animus! Talk about synchronicity! hahahaha!
Is a man more sexy if he’s in touch with his Anima? Hmmmm…. you may be onto something here dearest Elizavetta!
xoxo,
nina
Elizavetta:
Thank you for the introduction to Eddie Izzard. The video you linked to is no longer there. However, I found Eddie’s website and found him to be quite a charmer whose company I would truly enjoy, with or without makeup.
If you are examining performative gender, I would like to recommend a few texts which I found particularly helpful in separating stereotype from sexuality.
Same Difference: How Gender Myths are Hurting Our Relationships, Our Children and Our Jobs by Rosalind Barnett and Caryl Rivers is the second comprehensive study performed by the authors on the changing gender roles in contemporary society. Throughout their text the authors cite examples (from statistically valid studies) of skills and abilities, such as math or leadership, which are not markedly different between men and women. However, it is the expectation that these skills should be different that causes so much dissatisfaction among couples. Thus, Nancy Pelosi’s role as the House Majority Leader is no more atypical for her gender than Eddie Izzard’s use of makeup.
The Jungian concept of each human possessing both masculine and feminine characteristics is, IMO, the most workable metaphor for avoiding the constrictions imposed by gender stereotypes. As a woman who had worked in the corporate world for many years, I found the novel Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis an excellent example of the various personae, male and female, which we assume during our lifetimes and the difficulties we face when we fail to integrate these personae into our conscious selves.
Since you like a boy with a dash of girl, I will close with an excerpt from one of my favorite characters in fiction. In his novel What’s Bred in the Bone, Robertson Davies tells the life story of the artist Francis Cornish, and calls upon Arthur’s Tutelary Spirit, the Daimon known as Maimas to serve as narrator. In his early adolescence Francis, who is destined to be an exceptional master of the brush and palette, is fascinated with all manner of fabrics: diaphanous, soft colored, vibrant and richly embroidered. He gathers a yard here and a scrap there and fashions outfits which he models in front of the mirror. As Maimas explains:
Of course, Maimas is the very embodiment of this Mystical Marriage, as the Biographical Angel, the Lesser Zadkiel describes him:
If this novel ever becomes a movie, Mr. Izzard would be the quintessential Maimas.
Elizavetta, I look forward to reading your post on this subject.
Oh hell with the psycho babel, Eddie is hilarious! If you can check out his HBO special. He’s the man, no matter whose clothes he wears.
He’s an Executive Transvestite…and, he comes from where the History Is. An intelligent and insightful guy…er…girl…er…oh, who cares!
That is one of the funniest stand-up routines ever! He is now starring in a series with Minnie Driver that is supposed to be quite interesting.