Tuesday, August 4, 2009

For the Bold...

Head Shaving. Lately, the new 'it' hairstyle is taking cropped locks to a new extreme - buzzed. Everyone from Rhianna, to Carmen Electra to your next door neighbour is hopping on this bandwagon. It's been around for a while though sure, Demi Moore shaved her head in GI Jane, and although the movie wasn't stellar at the box office the look surely was talked about. Not so long ago Natalie Portman did the same for a role (in one of my favorite movies) V for Vendetta.
I think it's a gutsy move, while I'm not about to run down to the Orono Barber and let him go at my shoulder length strands, I commend those who do. A friend of mine has been shaving her head since high school, and rocks it. I commend those women who do not fear the hair cut which conservative minds think should solely be worn my enlisted men. It does bring a flash back for me though, of an article I'm reading to finish up a class. The article, "Cross Gender/Cross Genre" is written by Mike Kelley, and speaks on music and a musician's appearance. in the article Kelley talks about Glam Rock, and the culture which surrounded it in the 1970's. He mentions David Bowie as an ideal of using a drag queen-esqe persona as a status symbol for himself and his music.
At this time Bowie's appearance broke stereotypes of opposing gender/black and white/X and Y appearances. This hazy line continued on from Bowie to Motley Crue, and continues on today with front men such as Bill Kaulitze, of Tokio Hotel.
I find this 'gender bending' trend comforting. After all, it is 2009, and we no longer live in a time where the social norm is for women to only wear dresses and stay at home. I do not consider any of the above to be a trend, instead I see it as gender empowerment, since we are a long way away from where we were in the 1920-50's (economy wise not so much, but fashion wise & mindset, yes.)