「本書像是一道清新的微風,讓讀者以不一樣的視角,看待我們身處的這個『男性製造』的世界」─小說家Matt Haig,著有《我在地球的日子》、《雷德利一族》等作品
作者Grayson Perry,為英國傑出的當代藝術家,曾榮獲Tata美術館權威Turner prize,也受邀於BBC The Reith Lectures,作為當代藝術講題的演講人。英國每日郵報更評選他為影響英國文化最重要的100人之列。Grayson Perry的藝術不僅經常以性別議題為題材,Perry本人也經常以女性裝扮出現,且並不避諱自己有變裝癖的偏好,而跨性別裝扮,更是他藝術表現的一部分。
在藝術家眼裡,當談及性別平權,女性主義與性別研究已針對女性的處境進行種種的批判與改革,但性別平權並不是只有女性才需要參與的場域─男性其實也深受性別角色的禁錮與傷害!─是時候針對男性以及陽剛氣概masculinity,來場大反省了!唯有重新定義陽剛氣概masculinity,才能更符合趨勢的需求,也將使男性們過得更快樂與自在。
Grayson Perry在書中反思陽剛氣概在四個方面的影響:權力power(男性如何掌握了世界多數的權位)、展演行為performance(男性如何穿著與行為舉止)、暴力violence(男性如何傾向訴諸暴力與犯罪面對)、情感emotion(男性的感受如何運行)。雖以架構而言似乎深澳學術,但本書更像是一個男子的喃喃自白,從回憶自小成長的歷程,面對暴力的繼父、如何意識到自己有變裝癖的事實、從看報力電影並與同儕討論帶來的愉快刺激…Perry取用心理諮商的概念「當你意識到(別人的症狀),就表示你其實也有(症狀)」,陽剛氣概是他時而警醒保持疏離,卻又其實無法擺脫的一部分。
文字平易淺白,充滿令人莞爾或噴笑的小故事與揶揄諷刺。不僅談及性別、權力,也當然沒有缺少時尚與職業等主題,還附上藝術家手繪的插圖。一本適合任何對於性別議題好奇的讀者,一同將「預設值男性Default Man」重新定義。(文/博客來編譯)
'A breeze of a read, makes you see our male-manufactured world a little differently' Matt Haig
'GRAYSON PERRY FOR KING AND QUEEN OF ENGLAND. Imagine how BRILLIANT our country would look if he was' Caitlin Moran
Grayson Perry has been thinking about masculinity - what it is, how it operates, why little boys are thought to be made of slugs and snails - since he was a boy. Now, in this funny and necessary book, he turns round to look at men with a clear eye and ask, what sort of men would make the world a better place, for everyone?
What would happen if we rethought the old, macho, outdated version of manhood, and embraced a different idea of what makes a man? Apart from giving up the coronary-inducing stress of always being 'right' and the vast new wardrobe options, the real benefit might be that a newly fitted masculinity will allow men to have better relationships - and that's happiness, right?
Grayson Perry admits he's not immune from the stereotypes himself - as the psychoanalysts say, 'if you spot it, you've got it' - and his thoughts on everything from power to physical appearance, from emotions to a brand new Manifesto for Men, are shot through with honesty, tenderness and the belief that, for everyone to benefit, upgrading masculinity has to be something men decide to do themselves. They have nothing to lose but their hang-ups.