Creating a Dollhouse for Boys - Assignment Example

Final Project Art, gender, and culture are interdependent on each other. Art has a deep impact on gender and culture as it has the power to portray the sexes and culture through it. With the help of this assignment, I would like to understand the relationship between these three. Questions to be considered before proceeding with the project: To what extent art can or cannot influence gender and culture? Is art gender biased? How any culture is portrayed through art? In order to explore these questions, I would like to create an object. This will make it easy for me to understand the above stated questions and to come up with a conclusion. The object I want to create for this purpose is to make a dollhouse for boys. The dollhouse would not be pink in color and will not be having Barbie as its owner. I would replace that with a male doll, probably Iron Man or Super Man and will like to see what will be its impact once it is in the market. Since, I would like know about gender and art therefore, selecting a dollhouse that is intended for boys will surely stir a reaction. Dollhouses have been associated with girls from the beginning and the traditional culture has differentiated between the genders by using too much of pink in its creation. Even if any boy would like to use it then he is considered too feminine. This is very much relevant to my interests as I want to explore gender biasness in our culture through everyday art. I was inspired by the Week 2 lecture i.e. accessibility, marginalization, and belonging, in which the subject of ‘discrimination in arts’ has been discussed. Traditional Dollhouses: The doll house in the following figures portrays the excess use of pink color in it. From the flooring to the roof, to the wallpaper and even the stairs and furniture, everything inside and outside the doll house is pink. Even the equipment inside the house are not masculine or gender neutral at all. The advertisments for them are so designed that they are targetting girls and boys who want to play with it just ignore this though by thinking as it would be too feminine for them to play with one. The following two doll houses are showing the inside view. The entire house is based on pink theme and does not show activities or belongings of a male character. It shows only female dolls and no male character or room for a male indivdual. The dollhouse, which I have proposed to make, will not be having any such feature. It will be completely different and will target boys as its major audience. I will try to use many masculine things inside it and design it in a more gentleman manner. This is one example of the dollhouse that I am proposing (The doll house is not going to be exactly the same but it will have similar approaches). As it can be seen that this dollhouse has not used pink color anywhere, this suggests that this dollhouse is not targeting girls. Furthermore, it can be noticed that the advertisement is showing a young boy who is playing with his helicopter. The dollhouse does not have traditional dressing tables and pink beds and kitchens. It has included a policeman with his motorbike, a helipad and a helicopter, a basketball court, an ambulance and a fire emergency pole for the firefighters. Furthermore, there are a few pets as well, and the rooms are colored majorly with blue color. The exterior of the dollhouse will also not be like the traditional dollhouses; which are fairy homes or the proper hut-like-homes. Moreover, the dollhouse, which I want to market, will be a little different regarding its exterior, I would like to make it as portable as I can and that it gives a casual look. Since boys are not much concerned regarding the look, exterior or interior, therefore my idea is going to be different. For example, a dollhouse inside a guitar, as it will attract boys or maybe inside a car / van which the boys can drive, as well. Similarly, the dolls to be used for the house will be superman or ironman. Since these characters show masculinity, power and are considered as heroes therefore it will attract boys in just a glance. I would also park a couple of sports cars and sports bikes in the doll house as boys are very much in interested in these toys. Raw Materials Required Since, I am not capable of making a dollhouse on my own as it is not easy and practical, therefore I would like to make a wooden dummy first with the assistance of a carpenter. I prefer that the dollhouse should be built in the middle of the garden; the main accessories I want to add in the house will be the games, rides and different activities. In addition, the kitchen and utensils will be accommodated in the dollhouse that shall assess children to develop hygiene and cleanliness among the boys (Caverni, Fabre and Gonzalez). The dummy will only portray my idea and will not exactly look like what I want it to be as only the toy companies can make it in such manner. Raw materials will chiefly include, wood, colors, superman / ironman doll, furniture toys, cars and bikes etc. Survey and Findings Before persuading my idea, I took a survey in my neighborhood, nearby schools and a supermarket to evaluate response of others (Rae). The outcomes of the survey show that the most of the parents and correspondents appreciated the idea as they believe that the dollhouse for boys shall develop their hygiene, cleanliness and enhance their participation in the house (Ferguson and Dess). In addition, the idea of dollhouse can be effective to overcome the biasness regarding women proceeding in the society. It can allow promoting equality among guys and girls (Caverni, Fabre and Gonzalez). Works Cited Caverni, J P, J M Fabre and M Gonzalez. Cognitive Biases. North Holland: Elsevier science Publishers, 1990. Ferguson, Lucy Rau and Ram Dess. Identification and Child Rearing. California: Standford University Press, 2007. Rae, Christine. Home Staging for Dummies. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons, 2008. Read More