Rubber Pipe

After extensive study and research of Arthur Miller’s play ‘Death of a Salesman’, (1949) I decided to draw themes which I believed were deeply significant in the study of gender roles. I coupled this with Judith Butler’s ‘Gender Trouble’, (1990) detailing performative gender roles we observe in society. With this in mind, I employed an actor to create this video within the installation.

After extensive study and research of Arthur Miller’s play ‘Death of a Salesman’, (1949) I decided to draw themes which I believed were deeply significant in the study of gender roles. I coupled this with Judith Butler’s ‘Gender Trouble’, (1990) detailing performative gender roles we observe in society. With this in mind, I employed an actor to create this video within the installation. The video depicts a man, alone on stage, reciting lines from the literature which project two contrasting expressions of male emotion. Rather than shrouded in metaphor, the words are distinct and clear on one screen, while thel raw display of emotion is being performed on the other.

As Butler writes, the patriarchy is not only toxic for women, but men too. For they are expected to uphold expectation of domination and strength to uphold ideals of masculinity.

Miller, A (1949) Death of a Salesman

Butler, J (1990) Gender Trouble