Blackstar Posted March 8, 2010 Posted March 8, 2010 This was bought up in the Marketing thread and I think it was over looked. Are todays guard styles becoming too feminine? It bothered me this year to see one guard that every moves appeared for a better word ladylike. I won't mention the corps name but the guys in the guard, they didn't even dance they pranced around. Why can't there be more masculine movements in the guard...at least for the guys or at least a balance. And as much as I hate to even mention this, its not a gay straight thing. Its a style issue. Quote
bobjacobs Posted March 8, 2010 Posted March 8, 2010 This was bought up in the Marketing thread and I think it was over looked. Are todays guard styles becoming too feminine? It bothered me this year to see one guard that every moves appeared for a better word ladylike. I won't mention the corps name but the guys in the guard, they didn't even dance they pranced around. Why can't there be more masculine movements in the guard...at least for the guys or at least a balance. And as much as I hate to even mention this, its not a gay straight thing. Its a style issue. I don't know why I'm somewhat "offended" by this topic... but for some reason I am, even though I'm not a color guard performer. I would imagine that straight and gay men alike who perform in color guards would be offended by these types of sweeping characterizations as well.. Should we sit down with the Olympic figure skaters, and suggest that they are not worthy of watching because they are "too ladylike?" Should we "girl up" the young women currently tossing rifles? It's no secret that more color guards than ever now use men as well as women as a part of their ensembles. We know this wasn't the case throughout the history of drum corps. When working with musical and production themes that feature gender distinctions as a part of the plot of story, say "Spartacus," or "Carmen," or "West Side Story," the men are choreographed to depict a "male" role effectively – such as kicking slave girls, gang violence, stabbing others, etc. However, when the "role" or theme is more abstract, or when there is simply no friction/attraction/conflict between genders as a part of the theme, the dance and equipment work tend to be more "unisex," portraying the mood of the moment as opposed to the gender of the performers. Should we analyze the "manliness" of those engaged in other art forms, such as Ballet, Modern Dance, Opera, and Broadway shows as a component of our ability to appreciate what they're doing? Are we offended by the "style issues" relating to Olympic bicyclists, ski boarders, luge, bobsled or figure skaters? Should we bar references to dance or movement as un-manly? Are character portrayals of mountain climbers OK on a football field? Samurai warriors? Gladiators? Robots? James Bond? I'm all for artistic criticism... it's a part of the bedrock under our entire activity. I fail to see, however, what "productive" conversation can come from an analysis or criticism such as this. Quote
Cop Posted March 8, 2010 Posted March 8, 2010 (edited) This was bought up in the Marketing thread and I think it was over looked. Are todays guard styles becoming too feminine? It bothered me this year to see one guard that every moves appeared for a better word ladylike. I won't mention the corps name but the guys in the guard, they didn't even dance they pranced around. Why can't there be more masculine movements in the guard...at least for the guys or at least a balance. And as much as I hate to even mention this, its not a gay straight thing. Its a style issue. Dance is subjective Color guards went "mixed sex" to become as competitive as possible..... why cut out men when they are so powerful on equipment? As a choreographer one must make design choices to showcase the strongest aspects of your unit in order to best portray ones production.. 2008 phantom choice was to blend the females into a male story line, thus the male style was dominant. Boston 2009 went with a sexual show that was overtly female motivated.... the males supported the designers choice to move in a sensual direction. To ask if color guard is become to feminine is a blind question, any how you seem to have already decided your own personal answer while posting the question. Dance is an art form where there are no boundaries, if you understand that dance is the major driving force behind color guard and attempt to understand dance.... you wouldn't ask the question. I think your post should have read..... COLOR GUARD IS BECOMING TO GAY FOR ME. """"""""And as much as I hate to even mention this, its not a gay straight thing. Its a style issue"""""""" The first 30 years of drum corps history, females were as masculine as possible to sell the Military styles. So your non gay fall back line holds no water.. Edited March 8, 2010 by Cop Quote
Roy Perez Posted March 8, 2010 Posted March 8, 2010 Well why not just change the description of the Guard to "Dance Squad"and never refer to them as the Guard ..What do they guard now.??...since the descriptions of the hornlines has changed to keep up with the times like the bugle sections Sopranos,Contra to Trumpets and Tubas..just my thoughts on this.. Quote
Rimba47 Posted March 8, 2010 Posted March 8, 2010 This was bought up in the Marketing thread and I think it was over looked. Are todays guard styles becoming too feminine? It bothered me this year to see one guard that every moves appeared for a better word ladylike. I won't mention the corps name but the guys in the guard, they didn't even dance they pranced around. Why can't there be more masculine movements in the guard...at least for the guys or at least a balance. And as much as I hate to even mention this, its not a gay straight thing. Its a style issue. "guard style too feminine"? Uhm... no. A guarad should do whatever fits the style of music. If a corps is playing a ballet I doubt the guard would be doing (onyour terms) "masculine" moves (what ever the **** that means). The fact that you consider "feminine" and "masculine" as styles clearly shows to me that you are not looking at this subject it terms of "styles" since those two subjects are NOT dance styles. Maybe you could tell us what moves you feel would be appropriete for each gender? Have a restriction on the kinds of moves men should do because it makes them look gay? If men "prance" around minus 1 point since they are shattering the stereo type of what "men" should be in society. Would that help? Quote
Cop Posted March 8, 2010 Posted March 8, 2010 (edited) Well why not just change the description of the Guard to "Dance Squad"and never refer to them as the Guard ..What do they guard now.??...since the descriptions of the hornlines has changed to keep up with the times like the bugle sections Sopranos,Contra to Trumpets and Tubas..just my thoughts on this.. 1. Flag 2. Rifle 3. Saber The weapons used to guard the American flag in drum corps of the 1940's.... and still used today... As long as the Hopkins and Masons of DCI, keep allowing the designers to tell their stories of.... THE PLANETS or ALICE IN WONDERLAND utilizing these wonderful weapons of the Drum Corps history books.... lets just keep calling em color guards... it seems clear to me why we should. Edited March 8, 2010 by Cop Quote
Toby Posted March 8, 2010 Posted March 8, 2010 As someone who has been a part of this section in drum corps, it doesn't bother me a whole lot. I've spun some very feminine shows, I've performed in some more masculine shows, it's about what the designer is looking for. I do it because I enjoy it, not because of how the show is written. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.