Audio documentarian and artist JT Green discusses workwear, exploring gender through audio, and the significance of clothing in personal identity. They also explore gender beyond Western binary terms and delve into their sonic practice and labor. The concept of depersonalization and the connection to gender identity is explored, along with poetry, reflections, and the allure of nature. The podcast concludes by delving into the world of queer sounds and objects.
The tension between clothing choices and gender expression is explored, highlighting the prevalence of military and workwear styles among pacifist, liberal queers.
JT Green defines their gender through metaphors of natural and artificial elements, exploring the role of sounds in expressing and exploring gender.
Deep dives
Exploring Clothing Choices and Gender Expression
The episode delves into the tension between clothing choices and gender expression, emphasizing the prevalence of military and workwear styles among pacifist, liberal queers. The host and guest discuss their own experiences with sartorial choices, including the use of military-inspired clothing, blue-collar aesthetics, and uniforms within the LGBTQ+ community. They ponder the motivations behind these choices, touching on factors such as fit, personal history, and the desire to reclaim certain motifs. Overall, the conversation delves into the complex relationship between clothing, gender, and personal identity.
JT's Gender Exploration through Art and Sound
The guest, JT Green, describes their gender journey and artistic practice. They define their gender through the metaphor of a rock with moss and a can of soda, symbolizing the natural and artificial elements they embody. JT also explores various sounds that resonate with their gender, from the popping of ice cubes in water to the sounds of a subway car or a hybrid vehicle. They also discuss the influences on their gender presentation, including friends, fictional characters, and personal experiences. The conversation highlights the process of self-discovery and the role of art and sound in expressing and exploring gender.
Shadow Boxer: Exploring Gender, Technology, and Performance
The episode highlights JT's multimedia performance piece, 'Shadow Boxer,' which delves into the intersection of gender, technology, and self-reflection. The host and guest discuss the inspiration behind the work, which combines live improvisation, vocals, and instrumentation with projections of social media-related texts. 'Shadow Boxer' explores themes of depersonalization, gender dysphoria, and the ways in which technology shapes our perceptions of ourselves. The performance challenges the seamless representation of identity and highlights the labor and infrastructure behind the sounds we encounter. The conversation delves into the nuances of queer sound and the incorporation of glitch aesthetics in artistic expression.
Queer Sound and the Sonic Experience
In addition to discussing JT's artwork, the conversation touches on the concept of queer sound. The guests and hosts explore the ways in which certain sounds can be perceived as queer, drawing connections between glitch aesthetics, disruption, and the exposure of concealed aspects of identity. They highlight queer sounds such as microphone rattles, gaps in silence before speaking, or even the turning of keys as someone enters a space. The discussion raises thought-provoking questions about the communicative power of sound, its relation to gender and identity, and the importance of paying attention to sonic experiences.