Grayson Perry interview

Still totally confused why you're reacting like this! And I didn't say anything about publishers?

At home I and most artists/writers/illustrators/etc I know, are scruffbags. Sometimes in our pjs and for artists, obviously, they may also be messy and have paint on them. You see GP looking like this in some pics of him working in a studio.

So of course you are expected - by the venue/host, and society in general - to be a bit smarter than that for a visit or appearance, conference, whatever. It's not a written rule and no one demands it but if you turned up in your PJs or really scruffy it would be a bit awkward. I still can't fathom why this is a matter for "for goodness sake" and bollocks"!

Even though he's famous and famously eccentric, and therefore can get away with wearing what he likes, I do think most people in GP's position - a well-known artist visiting a school - would wear something pretty normal.

Really? You feel you've been expected to wear 'something a bit smarter' by your publisher? Bollocks.

I don't understand why you said "Oh for goodness sake", I don't think what I said is controversial? Just disagreeing that as an artist / writer he'd be encouraged to dress up like that. It's seems obvious to me it's a thing that's pretty unique to him.

Wings yes.

His honesty is refreshing and I don't think he should be cancelled for simply existing and making art. Equally I find any sort of fetish that involves unwitting members of the public completely unacceptable. It's like a form of indecent exposure or exhibitionism - part of the fetish is making other people uncomfortable and therefore it is a form of sexual threat. GP maybe doesn't see it like that - he talks about the humiliation side of it which is pretty depressing in of itself because the whole idea is that being a woman or girl is humiliating - but that doesn't make it okay to press it on other people. You can do whatever you want in private but really unacceptable to require the presence of other non-consenting people in order to perform your fetish.

MrsMadderRose are you an artist/writer?

Hmm but loads of authors and artists never dress up in anything like that way, in fact being home-based they're generally known for looking pretty scruffy. They might be expected to wear something a bit smarter for a school visit but not dress up and "prance about".

Oh for goodness sake.

A man who dresses as a parody of a little girl because he finds the idea of being seen like that humiliating and likes to orgasm to it, should not be invited into a place full of little girls. Or boys.

The idea that it's part of cancel culture, rather than basic safeguarding, is a little worrying.

Re the dressing up for a school visit, it''s about money and marketing, isn't it? Authors, artists are encouraged to prance about and sell themselves to make more money.

Hmm but loads of authors and artists never dress up in anything like that way, in fact being home-based they're generally known for looking pretty scruffy. They might be expected to wear something a bit smarter for a school visit but not dress up and "prance about".

This is so right. I know it.

Also, 'because they can'.

So true.

YetAnotherSpartacus Thu 11-Nov-21 09:52:30
I wonder why men enjoy their fetishes in cases where these stem from childhood trauma even if they are socially unacceptable or questionable instead of seeking to 'cure' them?

Shit.

There's no cure to life.

They get off on it, I suppose, and getting plaudits and money helps. So it goes.

I wonder why men enjoy their fetishes in cases where these stem from childhood trauma even if they are socially unacceptable or questionable instead of seeking to 'cure' them?

I am open to be wrong about this. I don't know anything anymore.

I am not sure what to think about this. My initial reaction is to just be bored by his dresses so that he stops getting any shock value and his fetish isn't encouraged.

Obviously his clothes cover him up suitably to be out in public.

But there is something dodgy about a man wearing clothes for fetish purposes in a school. He is saying that he is aroused by "shocking" behaviour around women and children. I don't think I would invite him to a school knowing that.

It really isn’t “no platforming”!

Re the dressing up for a school visit, it''s about money and marketing, isn't it? Authors, artists are encouraged to prance about and sell themselves to make more money.

sadly not sanely ffs

I also think I can find what he says alarming and not want to be part of it, without that meaning I want him “cancelled”. I do think he’s a great talent not just as an artist but as a thinker and commentator.

And of course someone could be getting off on you or, sanely, you child without your knowledge. I wear sandals in summer and don’t stop doing that because a foot fetishist might walk past and get turned on.

But I do think that telling people you’re using them to indulge in your fetish and the role your dress plays in hiding you erection etc is taking it a big step further. That makes me feel uncomfortable and used. Even if I’m not in his presence, because it’s about the signifiers of femaleness. I may be a GC feminist and I may not dress like “Clare” but I do wear dresses and I think I have a right to and I don’t think that’s humiliating or makes me second-class.

I also think if I was GP and had said all that, I would make sure I dressed unremarkably and normally for a school visit. It’s not that him going to a school means the kids are at risk of physical harm (they shouldn’t be even if he was a risk - we can’t know who is and that’s why there are safeguards) - it’s that anyone with any sense would make sure they didn’t bring that fetish into that setting. It’s disrespectful, inappropriate and suggests he values his arousal more than making sure boundaries around minors are maintained. No level of talent and artiness should let someone off the hook from understanding that.

You've lost me.