TRANS SURREALISM




In April 2023 I gave a talk on "Trans Surrealism" for the New York Comic and Picture Stories Symposium. I don't often delve into the more academic side of my art so it was fun to share the theories and influences that go into my work ! Super intimidating too !!!!! Ahhh ! It felt so strange to be giving some sort of lecture, like I'm some sort of expert, to a silent computer screen in my tiny little treehouse apartment. I think it went OK ?? Listen, no one comes out of the womb with a manuscript for Duke University Press and saying "discursive" all the time. It takes practice, and I don't even want to get to that point !! So I'm considering this a noble effort for the first time and I hope to expand on this more in the future ♥

GENERAL SYNOPSIS, IF YOU'RE CURIOUS:
A look at the intertwining and complicated histories of trans identities and surrealism, as well as how trans artists have historically been pushed into autobiographical & realist modes of making in order to appeal to cis audiences.

♥ CLICK THE ABOVE IMAGE TO BE TELEPORTED TO THE TALK ♥

IMPORTANT UPDATE : IN THIS TALK I CLAIMED THAT PREMARIN IS SYNTHESIZED FROM HORSE PLACENTA WHEN ACTUALLY IT IS SYNTHESIZED FROM HORSE URINE. I'M NOT SURE WHERE I GOT THE IDEA THAT PREMARIN WAS SYNTHESIZED FROM HORSE PLACENTA WHEN ACTUALLY IT'S SYNTHESIZED FROM HORSE URINE. I'M SORRY TO EVERYONE WHO BELIEVED ME WHEN I SAID PREMARIN WAS SYNTHESIZED FROM HORSE PLACENTA AND NOT HORSE URINE.





: WORKS CITED / THINGS REFERENCED :
- The Greer Lankton Archive -
- Brian Chippendale (Author of If 'n Oof) -
- Mickey Zachilli (Author of Cordyceps Comic) -
- Balls Out: A Column On Being Transgendered -
- Five Questions With The Collection Pt. 2 (Casey Plett Quote) -
- T Clutch Fleischmann and Torrey Peters on Trans Essays -
- Paris Is Burning -
- Rachel Humphries and Lou Reed -
- Candy Darling -
- Potassa de la Fayette -
- Zagria on Amanda Lear -
- Zagria on International Chrysis -
- Yeda Brown -
- Le Numero Barbette (1926) by Jean Cocteau -
- Barbette -
- Claude Cahun -
- "Crazy Little Men" by Christine Jorgensen -
- Lili Elbe (Subject of "Man Into Woman") -
- The Conundrum of Conundrum (On Jan Morris' Conundrum) -
- Gaylord Phoenix (2010) by Edie Fake -
- Rachel Pollack in TransSisters (1995) -
- Rachel Pollack Interview in The Comics Journal (2022) -
- Far Side Melting Wiener Dogs -
- Chance Encounter on the Dissecting Table -

I think that's it ???? If there's anything else you're curious about ......
Girl, just email me !