Doing it like a dude...

THE SERIOUS REASON I DRESSED AS A CHAP : One of our current street arts performance tasks at uni is based on the idea of consumerism, capitalism, corporations and the current economic crisis the country is in. In short, it's a despressing look at our world today. It has posed some really interesting discussions in my lectures about how we got here and what we could do to get out of it and interestingly enough, it was us (the students) who presented the subject matter as a worthy performance topic.

The character I play is supposed to emulate the 'big cheese' (or 'big knob cheese' I guess) who started and maintained this ridiculous capitalist society that we live in. The character represents all those who have done their bit to get us where we are. The character is both the puppet and the puppeteer and yet...I have no idea whether the character is male or female. And thus, the cause for this evenings explorations.

The issue I face is that it has taken BOTH genders to reach the current situation that we are in. However, it is often men who are associated with business and power, whereas women can sometimes still be seen to be hitting the 'glass ceiling' and all that jazz. Yet, on the other hand, many believe a certain Iron Lady as being the one who suggested we were onto a jolly good thing here. Originally and in our initial presentation to our lecturers, I established my character as a woman, more for conveinience than anything else *gestures to mammories*. However, I feel like I am taking the easy way out in doing so and I cant quite work out in which direction to go with it. Maybe the character is some sort of strange hybrid of both woman and man... Is it even important?? Am I thinking more about this than is required? Does the fact I'm doing so say more about me than it does about the situation??

I havent a clue, but I fully intend to pick my groups brains about it tomorrow. One thing is for sure however, either way...I make one ugly bloke.

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