Gender Transformation

“ If the ground of gender identity is the stylized repetition of acts through time, and not a seemingly seamless identity, then the possibilities of gender transformation are to be found in the arbitrary repetition between such acts, in the possibility of a different sort of repeating, in the breaking or subversive repetition of style.” Judith Butler Performative Acts and Gender Constitution (1998)

“ If the ground of gender identity is the stylized repetition of acts through time, and not a seemingly seamless identity, then the possibilities of gender transformation are to be found in the arbitrary repetition between such acts, in the possibility of a different sort of repeating, in the breaking or subversive repetition of style.”

Judith Butler

Performative Acts and Gender Constitution (1998)

“ Once the breast is hairless, I pull at my breast, I’m trying to make my breast look like a female breast …” -Vito Acconci Conversions. Part I (Summer 1971)

“ Naked, I’m practicing a new body… I’m keeping my penis confined between my legs, my body looks as if it has a vagina… I’m exercising my new body …” -Vito Acconci Conversions. Part II (Summer 1971)

“ With my penis confined, with my penis gone, I’m exercising… she’s trying to keep my penis, keep my penis lost in her mouth. As the camera moves in front of us, as the camera zooms into my groin, my body has a vagina .” -Vito Acconci Conversions. Part III (Fall 1971)

“ I’m dressed with eye makeup and a wig, but you are very aware that it is a man… I think the power of the piece is that you get lost. It’s this idea of seducing through an androgynous figure …” - Paul McCarthy Sailor’s Meat (1975)

Paul McCarthy Sailor’s Meat (1975)

Paul McCarthy Tubbing (1975)

Paul McCarthy Tubbing (1975)