The winner of the 2014 Eurovision Song
Contest was the Austrian singer Tom Neuwirth in his alter ego of the
bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst. We know drag, but millions of TV
viewers wondered: what's with the beard?
The essay has been moved to my personal website:
Thanks for those words of open-mindedness. I know that Youtube commenters and such are mostly the "scum of the earth" as a friend told me, so it feels good to see other, more organized words, to balance the hatred. I see the character of Conchita Wurst as, not only provoking, but also as that of a farseer. People of ambigous genders have been seen in certain ancient cultures as demi-gods who could fathom life through the eyes of both males and females, touching thus a certain form of omniscience. While, in reality, it isn't omniscience but a sharper sense of empathy, I see hope in Conchita Wurst, that of reminding people that dividing society into males and females will never lead to a common understanding and equality, and that we need to see the feminity and masculinity present in each of us. It's easier to hate what you don't understand if you're selfish, but in practice, peace is always more convenient than war because unity makes us stronger.
ReplyDeleteIsaac, many thanks for your comment. I can only agree, wholeheartedly.
DeletePuts me in mind of the oxymoron, "You can't have your cake and eat it, too!"
ReplyDeleteWhat good is cake you can't eat?
As a bearded Alaskan not known his masculinity, I'm off to read your essay on the barbarian persuasion. 8)
Thanks for the thoughtful commentary.
Dave Z