#topic 16

[bvargasart]

This is my newest bisexual sculpture! The second part of my bisexual series.

           In The “Good” Bisexual, I aimed to address the public on bisexuality while discussing issues and causes for biphobia and bi-erasure. My goal is to create an understanding of a fluid sexuality in order to encourage conversation of its place within contemporary society.

           Dr. Fritz Klein, founder of the American Institute of Bisexuality, wrote that bisexuals face a unique form of erasure where there is not a community. Things are getting better, but still, today there is only an invisible community to be a part of. Bisexuality becomes an absorbed identity defined by the gender of the significant other.

           The “Good” Bisexual is portraying the wide spectrum of preferences a bisexual can operate under in order to identify as bisexual. Bisexuality is defined as attraction to two or more genders, however, bisexuals can range from any part of the spectrum. Some prefer more homosexual relationships while others prefer more heterosexual or non-binary relationships. Criticism from homosexual and heterosexual groups creates a feeling of being an outsider. Lack of support from within the invisible community of bisexuals who have a more “equal” preferences create a false standard in order to be “bisexual enough”. These preferences result in bisexuals feeling like they are “bad bisexuals” or “not bisexual enough”.  

The “Good” Bisexual addresses the amount of bi-erasure that occurs when people think bisexuals should “prove” or “legitimize” their identity. My series of sculptures addressing the invisible bisexual community means to bring the lack of a visible community to light. I desire to create a community that respects and supports one another as bisexuals rather than pushing each other back into the dark.

I thought this was perfect for this weeks Bi talk! If you have yet to look at the blog I suggest you do, it is uplifting to have real conversations from others in the community.

[attemptingtopassaschemistry]

Classification of Alcohols

Alcohols are almost ranked into PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND TERTIARY, according to how many other groups are bonded to the carbon that has the -OH group. You have to know how to identify them and I really struggle with that, so I came up with a way of remembering them. It's quite deep, and probably a bit shitty, but it helps me remember them.

This is an example of a primary alcohol (do excuse the shaky paint drawings):

You can see that his -OH group is at the END of the chain. When you're in primary school, say moving up to big school, you come towards the end of fun and games, and childhood. It's quite an emotional way of remembering it, and a bit sad... like primary, end of childhood, but I guess that's why it works.

Here's an example of a secondary alcohol:

This time the -OH group is in the BODY of the chain. Umm, this theory is when you move up to secondary school, you start changing. And somehow popularity, or at least a sense of popularity, becomes all about being pretty and having a nice body-  some of the guys start to become obsessed with working out and going to the gym, and some girls seem to dwell on their body image and weight. (This is a very stereotypical assumption by the way, of course not everyone becomes obsessed with their bodies, and that's probably a really really good thing :3)

Here's an example of a tertiary alcohol:

See how the -OH group is positioned at a BRANCH in the chain. When you leave school, you become tertiary. You leave your friends, and school behind, and branch out, "finding yourself" whether it be in a job, an apprenticeship, at sixth form or college, the idea is you're branching out to new situations, meeting new people and finding new friends.