Adrian Baldwin
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Observations
  • Reviews
  • Blog
  • The Blog Library
  • My 70s Things
  • Contact Me
  • Links

Alpha males, beer and Grayson Perry

5/22/2016

0 Comments

 
Over the last few weeks, I have watched all three episodes of the series “All Man”, on Channel 4. The programmes featured Grayson Perry and his quest to understand masculinity/machismo and then create art to represent it.

​Which I’ll admit beforehand, I thought was a bit weird. Grayson Perry, with his pantomime dame type cross-dressing and childlike make-up, is well known, more than a bit odd and the most unlikely of characters to investigate alpha male behaviour.

In terms of art, beforehand, I had only seen his pink Harley Davidson in the British Museum and, to be frank, I thought it was horrible. If you haven’t seen it, imagine a bike that would suit Mr Blobby and you won’t go too far wrong – a terrible thing to do to a Harley!

I once watched an episode of “Have I Got News For You” when Perry was a panel member (in drag) and I struggled to take him seriously.

In making “All Man”, Perry engaged with northern cage fighters, then went on to meet with some Skelmersdale scallies and finally some city hotshots.

​Some of the characters he engaged with were grievous sorts, those that thought that masculinity was best evidenced by fighting and hurting other people, or protecting their side of the council estate with knives. To his credit, Perry managed to have decent dialogues with some intellectually/behaviourally challenged individuals – he showed he has a non-threatening but probing interviewing approach (that reminded me of Louis Theroux) that got the best out of his interviewees.

And those filmed were not alone in warming to Perry. Without his OTT make-up and bonkers costumes, I found that I warmed to him too; he came over as bright, articulate, interesting and talented. His process of distilling observations into artworks was fascinating and the work produced was on the money. And that brings me to the city.

The last episode, aired on 19th May, featured city hot shots. Of all the groups, this was the one I struggled with the most, which surprised me. To be honest, I have no intellectual reference points for cage fighters or Skelmersdale gang members, but I thought I might identify more with the city types. However, seeing/listening to these egotistical blokes that thought they were important and that their opinions mattered because they were educated, wealthy and wore smart clothes, just made me cross.

Grayson may have had a similar opinion because his art to represent this group included a big cock and a nasty looking mutant animal. Absolutely bang on in my opinion. Funnily enough the city boys didn’t seem to appreciate his efforts.

I couldn’t watch the series without reflecting on my own maleness. My conclusion is that I am far removed from the alpha male stereotype and am thankful for it (though I’ll accept that there are those out there that think I am a bit of a cock).

Do you ever judge people on the basis of whether or not you’d be prepared to share a beer or a coffee with them?

Well the only individual from the “All Man” experience that I’d have been prepared to spend time with was, and unexpectedly I might add, Grayson Perry. Bearing in mind I was rather suspicious of him at the outset, I found my change of heart interesting. But then Perry has a wife and kids and, when not dressed up like a transvestite, comes across as a normal, decent kind of a chap. A beer with him would be entertaining me thinks.

If you missed All Man, why not catch up on 4OD, I’d recommend it. 

Blog Home
Blog Library
Home
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Adrian Baldwin

    Blogging for more than a decade



    Archives

    February 2025
    January 2025
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    February 2024
    September 2023
    August 2023
    June 2023
    December 2022
    July 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    May 2021
    October 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    March 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.