with these feathers I made
In light of the discussion of erasure that has been taking place in fandom and the internet lately, I thought I'd share something full of win and not fail. Blog veterans may recognise Girlyman from me talking excitedly about concerts or my friend Ary's job as their sound tech. Margaret Cho recently made a music video for their song "Young James Dean", and it's awesome.
Well, that's great, Iambic, but what the hell does this have to do with the discussion about erasure? According to Margaret Cho, almost everyone involved in making this video was trans/queer/butch/femme in some regard -- before the camera and behind it. She explains that "the song is a meditation on butch identity, and so [Cho] wanted to show how beautiful we are as a community, no matter what gender we are or what we choose to be." Trans and genderqueer erasure is way too common in our gender-binary culture; the song itself is about that, and the video is an answer to that. Our identities aren't less than real.
Granted, if you don't want to get mired down in politics and would just prefer to watch a goddamn music video, this is a really pretty one, and it's a great song. Watch the goddamn music video.
In the back of a camouflage truck
They locked me in once with the material
I was full of a rage no one could handle
I was a private in the army
All the real girls with their backs turned called me crazy
Called me crazy
I worked for a while at a diner
Manager said I had to wear that little uniform
Said I was part of the problem
But I was in love with that blonde girl
She kissed me twice behind the counter
But when I asked her to get into my car
She called her man, said 'don't bother her'
She called her man, said 'don't bother her'
I guess I'll feel less than real all my life
With these feathers I made
Under me lifting me up
But I was a young James Dean
With a way with ladies
All the real boys in their black jeans called me crazy
Called me crazy
Called me crazy
Called me crazy
Well, that's great, Iambic, but what the hell does this have to do with the discussion about erasure? According to Margaret Cho, almost everyone involved in making this video was trans/queer/butch/femme in some regard -- before the camera and behind it. She explains that "the song is a meditation on butch identity, and so [Cho] wanted to show how beautiful we are as a community, no matter what gender we are or what we choose to be." Trans and genderqueer erasure is way too common in our gender-binary culture; the song itself is about that, and the video is an answer to that. Our identities aren't less than real.
Granted, if you don't want to get mired down in politics and would just prefer to watch a goddamn music video, this is a really pretty one, and it's a great song. Watch the goddamn music video.
Click to viewIn the back of a camouflage truck
They locked me in once with the material
I was full of a rage no one could handle
I was a private in the army
All the real girls with their backs turned called me crazy
Called me crazy
I worked for a while at a diner
Manager said I had to wear that little uniform
Said I was part of the problem
But I was in love with that blonde girl
She kissed me twice behind the counter
But when I asked her to get into my car
She called her man, said 'don't bother her'
She called her man, said 'don't bother her'
I guess I'll feel less than real all my life
With these feathers I made
Under me lifting me up
But I was a young James Dean
With a way with ladies
All the real boys in their black jeans called me crazy
Called me crazy
Called me crazy
Called me crazy