Plans after working critique on Nov. 8:
Great thing that happened in relation to this challenge: I emailed Kavi Ade making sure that he was okay with me using his work as inspiration since my composition seems to be leaning more towards a visual interpretations and he replied saying he would be excited to see the end result.
Things I want to capture:
Things I want to capture:
- POV of child (probably early adolescent, goes along with next point)
- Sense of being in between. Should brainstorm for possible ways of conveying this. Would it be more beneficial to use smooth or stilted, awkward transitions? Probably a balance.
- Literal use and suggestions of layers
- Keep all elements late elementary school like (cootie catchers, etc) but with a vintage feel, just for my aesthetic preference and to unify with vintage cover. Last point is somewhat flexible, as its just a preference.
- Pop-up elements, as they are dangerously complex
- Peter Pan as a character, as he has connotations beyond that of the poem that the viewer would go enter the situation with
- Generally extraneous details and ideas. The concept is "less is more", so a critical eye is necessary for eliminating things that do not directly aid the composition in portraying the meanings that it needs to
- I would like to have the book appear to be a vintage copy of Peter Pan and possibly a vintage medical book on the reverse. I may have a vintage-ish edition of Peter Pan among my collection of books that I could commandeer the binding from. If not, I may search for a generic fairy tale book with an interesting cover. The idea of having a different cover on the reverse would be difficult as it the size of the bindings would have to match up. It may be possible by using the back cover of one binding and pasting or otherwise attaching the image of the other onto it.
- Circle flip out interactive thingie (see inspo) has many possibilities. Could have the main character or something to represent the main character revealed beneath the layers as if he had been hiding. Could have each layer be another deeper aspect of the character or just literally clothes then skin then muscles then bones then spirit. Could have the layers be things forced upon character such as dresses and dolls. Could also use this a flip book element.
- Paper doll with feminine clothing stapled/sewed to it crudely, implicating that it had been forced on. Maybe add a tag that say "From Mom and Dad". Could have it sewed in such a way that it looks like the seams have been pulled, so you can lift up the clothing to view the true form. Maybe just have the clothing folded up where it has been pulled up.
- Isolated figure and a face with stare directed at it. The face is a flap that opens to reveal a brain with the image of a monster in the same pose as the figure. Figure flips up to show skeleton or otherwise internal structure, to convey the scrutiny he is subject to.
- Repetition of the word "it" in elements, possibly used as stippling/shading or to create lines.
- Paper chain of people alternating between male and female, with one in the middle that is different in shape and color.
- The last few lines of insecurity but self-reliance are important and I want to find the best way to convey it in a way that is unified with the rest of the composition. Should find inspiration with childlike elements that would help.
- Incorporating glitter to have the suggestion of fairy dust without using Peter Pan too blatantly, and could be used for the references to self-care in the poem.
It
by Kavi Ade
You want to be Peter Pan
You want to be that fairy dusted disaster
that conquers Hook and slays pirates
because that's what strong boys do
but they gave you a dress
and a name to match
and a lot of pink stuff you never play with
and you loved action figures
just as much as dolls
yeah, you love dolls, don't lie
you don't walk like a lady, though
and you flunked ballet class
you can't go
it's boys only
don't wear swimming trunks, wear a bathing suit
you're too old to be a tomboy
grow up
you can't fly, you never will
and even days when you're wearing the perfect clothes
people will stare and say
"Is that a girl or a boy?"
and you smile to yourself
because today maybe you might just pass
but then you see their eyes register
no facial hair
no knot in your throat
no bulge in your pants
they say it again
louder
tauntingly
"Is that a girl or a boy?"
This time they know and they just want to see you squirm
and you do
and they snicker
and give you a look that says
you aren't human here
you're stuck with the body you've got
and the gender you don't
there's no fairy dust
no flying away
no childhood dreams
so you're doing the best you can
you rock your indecisive parts proudly
but there are days when you can be shattered by a quick tongue
days when men argue about the lines of your body
and then one says
"It's got tits"
it
because you're not worthy of any other title
days when girls will hate you for what you are
whatever you are
you aren't human here
but i've got tits
so on that day when he said to me
"I don't care if you're gay,
I'll still fuck the shit out of you"
I should have been willing, right?
but I wasn't
so I walked faster
trying to escape his leering face
the look of malice in his eyes that I've seen in so many other men
"I'll fuck you straight, girl"
I don't know how much of a girl I am
but at that moment I wished I had the knuckle strength of men
but I don't
So I left my pride in his throat
I will try to glue myself back together for tomorrow
because there are always going to be days like this
days when you have to carry your somber heart like a coffin
days when you pass until you slip
and let your words fall from your mouth carried by a feminine voice
and they know again
know that you're not a him or a her
but something in between
not human to them
what an abomination
what a monster
why can't you be normal
with your dress
your boyfriend
your virginity
they want to paint you the color of smashed hymens
they want you to know that naked
you will always be soft like a woman
naked you will always have the parts of a woman
you
it
with your telltale breasts
you will never be one of those strong boys
you are far from peter pan
but learn to hold your back like a flagpole
it's all you've got out there
there's no Neverland
by Kavi Ade
You want to be Peter Pan
You want to be that fairy dusted disaster
that conquers Hook and slays pirates
because that's what strong boys do
but they gave you a dress
and a name to match
and a lot of pink stuff you never play with
and you loved action figures
just as much as dolls
yeah, you love dolls, don't lie
you don't walk like a lady, though
and you flunked ballet class
you can't go
it's boys only
don't wear swimming trunks, wear a bathing suit
you're too old to be a tomboy
grow up
you can't fly, you never will
and even days when you're wearing the perfect clothes
people will stare and say
"Is that a girl or a boy?"
and you smile to yourself
because today maybe you might just pass
but then you see their eyes register
no facial hair
no knot in your throat
no bulge in your pants
they say it again
louder
tauntingly
"Is that a girl or a boy?"
This time they know and they just want to see you squirm
and you do
and they snicker
and give you a look that says
you aren't human here
you're stuck with the body you've got
and the gender you don't
there's no fairy dust
no flying away
no childhood dreams
so you're doing the best you can
you rock your indecisive parts proudly
but there are days when you can be shattered by a quick tongue
days when men argue about the lines of your body
and then one says
"It's got tits"
it
because you're not worthy of any other title
days when girls will hate you for what you are
whatever you are
you aren't human here
but i've got tits
so on that day when he said to me
"I don't care if you're gay,
I'll still fuck the shit out of you"
I should have been willing, right?
but I wasn't
so I walked faster
trying to escape his leering face
the look of malice in his eyes that I've seen in so many other men
"I'll fuck you straight, girl"
I don't know how much of a girl I am
but at that moment I wished I had the knuckle strength of men
but I don't
So I left my pride in his throat
I will try to glue myself back together for tomorrow
because there are always going to be days like this
days when you have to carry your somber heart like a coffin
days when you pass until you slip
and let your words fall from your mouth carried by a feminine voice
and they know again
know that you're not a him or a her
but something in between
not human to them
what an abomination
what a monster
why can't you be normal
with your dress
your boyfriend
your virginity
they want to paint you the color of smashed hymens
they want you to know that naked
you will always be soft like a woman
naked you will always have the parts of a woman
you
it
with your telltale breasts
you will never be one of those strong boys
you are far from peter pan
but learn to hold your back like a flagpole
it's all you've got out there
there's no Neverland