C8LYN, 2021
ARTIST EDITION IN THE FORM OF A FASHION EDITORIAL-
CUM-POLITICAL-SATIRE FEATURING MACY RODMAN
AS “C8LYN” JENNER
ARTIST EDITION IN THE FORM OF A FASHION EDITORIAL-
CUM-POLITICAL-SATIRE FEATURING MACY RODMAN
AS “C8LYN” JENNER
with macy rodman
for façadomy, 2021
![Poster image for C8LYN by steven harwick](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5c70871779f27013a9f72fd262c720f54ce0a327c6dbfc0769bb5ae14e891972/SQUARE-CROPS3.jpg)
“C8LYN is both the critic, Macy Rodman and the subject, Caitlyn Jenner—a new enitity designed to the thrive in a state of disorentation by leaning in to fraud like a virtue. She is a 21st century iconoclast working in the immaterial realm. A vector of self determination programmed to deceive and to delight. A three sided coin. A lie which tells the truth—an attempt at a new realism.” —Façadomy
C8LYN is a fashion editorial-cum-political satire conceived of and created in collaboration with performance artist, musician and comedian Macy Rodman. Having been a fan of Macy’s troll account @caitupdate where she uses snapchat’s face filter technology to impersonate Caitlyn Jenner. The videos Macy creates are hilarious, well researched, and hard-hitting—brilliant political satire. I approached Macy to build out the world of that character in the form of a satirical “magazine” which supposes that Caitlyn is pandering to the youth by creating her own fashion magazine, centering her, and her totally insane lifestyle.
![Caitlyn's coming out cover of Vanity Fair. June, 2015](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/72691c114b45fe3df2a1d523632da197f1ddd80a0e8c658403b8a7030d4e4fda/caitlyn-jenner-bruce-jenner-july-2015-vf.jpeg)
![Jenner with her Glamour magazine 2015 Woman of the Year for her work as a "Trans Champion."](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9f3b1e42b9ca92b2ca78e5f272601fb37be35c61e599cb737b217139a48ccfe6/HLDQ27ZSU47O5QTKVULXHN2JIA.jpeg)
![Jenner with family at her 70th birthday party](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/41d6efe4b7aab4c88281ba4138aa24c4d8c6e76e8d4d3a89a016b2dba6465be8/PRI_93971279-e1572443069157.jpeg)
![“Fortunately the guy was a really bad shot… liberals can’t even shoot straight”](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/38d7e3c42f7454dd685bacceb55b381241497543fa80c351395e336fa618010d/IMG_2876.jpg)
![Scene from an accident caused by Jenner, resulting in the death of Kim Howe which stirred up controversy soon after Jenner's coming out announcement](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/46b979935a4e03aca917e4ebcfa3003d758b21ebabb412d3cafed90d177802f0/0_Bruce-Jenner-involved-in-four-car-pile-up-on-PCH-Los-Angeles-America-07-Feb-2015.jpg)
![Court summons for Jenner's trial following the accident, which At the end of the investigation, the DA’s office did not proceed with charges due to a lack of evidence](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/12ab6b87eeab2ce4bbd2237830e0799ac28aad217dd6646ce08f80178221bbe6/Screen-Shot-2022-02-10-at-1.02.33-PM.png)
Early on in the process Macy and I joked that if everyone in the US drew a line from where they stood, straight to hell, all lines would eventually intersect with Caitlyn Jenner—if not phsyically then symbolically, which is the level at which celebrity exists in most of our lives. Accusations of vehicular manslaughter were swept under the rug months after she came out as trans on the cover of Vanity Fair, becoming a figurehead for the trans community overnight (admitting at that time she had never met another trans person). Jenner supported President Donald J. Trump’s first campaign for office, but withdrew in 2018 after his administration attacked transgender rights. She later ran for California Governer, under the advisement of Brad Parscale, Trump’s former campaign manager. Her political affiliations are at odds with the needs of transgender people, to say the least. On the other other Jenner can be seen as wholesome, glamorous, philanthropic, a trans activist, and someone who has suffered tremendously on the journey of finding her truth. But what exactly is said truth? Jenner is complex character who contains multitudes which at times sit in astounding contradiction. The project explores Jenner as a complicated figure, putting her more adorable qualities alongside the privelidge of wealth, bourgeois white feminism, pollitical convservativism, celebrity and gun ownership (to name a few).
![font, r-side and back view of the c8lyn box set packaging](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6b402cc8b05117e3e9a8c7a359e52461a7626c3b565689b0dbc6a1ea25f5a9f1/C8-BOX-EXTERIOR-1.jpg)
An big influence on the tone of the design and writing was Diane Von Furstenberg’s Book of Beauty, originally published in 1976. This reference was particularly salient for many reasons, but to name a few:
![rare first edition laid bare apart from Diane's signature placed at an upward angle as if to denote her own perpetual ascent](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e878ffd6c69c691d1fbc8f02c8932ba4b5317079fedb573c6c1b74ccde5c9f4f/DVF-COVER.jpg)
![the subtitle diane's book "how to become a more attractive, confident and sensual woman" became an anthem for c8lyn. Alluring as it is sinister.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3a062499ffb9e5aeafcf23c6891a824aa902adf7f3d619da06f79f87b06afbad/DVF-16.jpg)
![fantastic illustrations by wendy frost, which set the tone for the illustrations drake carr did for the zine "code pink" which you can see below.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/da4752bbce991ef8d8fe321bab8423b69eaa9ea1aa72ef33b25327760be4fc25/DVF-7.jpg)
![An almost damning dedication, sets a bizarre tone. Worth noting that both he book designer and the illustrator are women and prominently credited.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/735c602f3db9800322a8f48253342954e287861fdeb0fbce38a2114ed7fbbace/DVF-15.jpg)
![The third paragraph on this page is exemplary of the absurd, virtually impossible ease with which diane asserts all women's self determination.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/efbfe4d08c7ee257d227015e76bc504273165716672c4bad427d9a159e9183a8/DVF-14.jpg)
![A few casual news clippings (this spread is 1 of 3) which assert DVF as an elite, ultra-wealthy, feminist, mother and literal princess.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/945ccb695004956ca40d9ab61e0b2d66e9df9c2f0c55872b6eee5fb6ea8e7f5e/DVF-13.jpg)
![diane von furstenberg: feminist princess, working woman.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f84f170515764845d8ea190579727cdd4ffe643f0a5e5d749693db186f341756/DVF-5.jpg)
![A diagram we used to create a slightly more extreme version in the zine "code pink" which you can find below.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6f6af069dfd9f326e757ad32d6233b9edf82fec3577a67c0abd956da5825ea38/DVF-10.jpg)
!["to help you find the right colors for your own makeup I have designed three charts for all skin and hair types, including black skins"](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6f271d65f796a27b41dbd5b5d07cfca041a0962e3286c411d1b590cd35616c0b/DVDF-11.jpg)
![While white women get a range of charts, black women all seem to fit on one page, which conveniently also works for "brunettes with warm skin”?](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/54f74aeb749f06597059e42060d13f76dc985b05ed7376246b602cec448cccaf/DVF-12.jpg)
![peak example of the copy tone—foreboding levity. You really can't make this shit up.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9014965367eb5c7662287b7c3a47072689c1c2e0a65eb8f342ef21df7a16caa7/DVF-9.jpg)
![Diane explains the woes of having textured hair, which of course no one in brazil has ever had to worry about?](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4f24785cf5831df532c71c9d58e1d380e276f4a4407a0bf80214cc94bc975229/DVF-8.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4b02fd31a3218240870750051aec3695099e7e6e714da98eca93036bd6f0709a/DVF-6.jpg)
The sheer absurdity of it. DVF is a literal Belgian princess with beauty standards that are virtually impossible to achieve
A bizarre (edging on psychotic) admixture of severity and humor. We wanted to play up the athleticism of feminine beauty standards by presenting it as an extreme sport.
The Wrap Dress, one of DVF’s claims to fame and a favorite of Ms. Jenner
The 1970’s glamour and visual style felt relelvant for a woman of a certain age
The subtitle of the book “How to become a more attractive, confident and sensual woman”
There is a rather disturbing association between feminine beauty and violence that feels like an important aspect of the darkest depths of the North American psyche—one that warrants interrogation. Given Caitlyn’s well-know affinity for vehicles, remote control helicoptors, and firearms—a collection of objects with a militant flair—we saw an opportunity to investigate this in the satirical world of the project. I started researching the NRA, and uncovered a long history of shock-value, fear-mongering advertising targeting both women and children.
![Selection of fear-mongering ads produced by the NRA in the early 1980's signaling their pivot from a gentelman's club to a political organization](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9008e838f57e2581dfba059d08d885ba5ab8cbef12add5c621b501f92231f924/concealed-carry-ads600.jpeg)
![Ruby Fox featured in the "I'm the NRA" campaign by the Ackerman McQueen Advertising agency in the early 1980s](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/df36baabdfb5ccb9337de336cf45ebf228b9b3f84f2fb0face513e3e2bea8dc4/RUBT-FOX-NRA.jpeg)
![Janice Schuler featured in the "I'm the NRA" campaign by the Ackerman McQueen Advertising agency in the early 1980s](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c82c19e1b7f360cd08e825a270729e8eeaf34b20fb6afba7ab10dbbd65d8de13/99b5ae179bbc20e6d982c5b0c7d007eb.jpeg)
![NRA ad from the 1980s targeting the everyday (white) working woman](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c94c5861b2645c82cab5cbdfe02c7000a0fe8b54e1fc387955e8cf683d28a497/fd86ab81bbe22ca3005f065b442e8dd8.jpg)
![Fear-mongering NRA ad from Hilary Clinton's tenure as Secretary of Defense from 2009–2013 targeting (white) housewives](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d3c8341c2cdc07745f5b5e3e2db79d873cf5b24bba68e31346515817dc97a188/remote.jpeg)
![Title treatment for the NRAWomen show "Armed & Fabulous"](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e5605413b9db2ce0f0a3a49ada546c8a78fb0787cccd182435c5daf7a05dffd8/Screen-Shot-2022-02-10-at-10.47.46-PM.png)
![Libby Krottinger alongside husband featured on "Armed and Fabulous"](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/677c63d486244ffd656f55217210c0407a812ff17190f9fa346ce8408cc62f1a/Screen-Shot-2022-02-10-at-10.48.57-PM.png)
![Title treatment for NRAWomen show "Love at First Shot"](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/28ea9fa1114acdd00dcec274cdf17f81e65cea2288f7536b1ebc3c459cbcd45b/Screen-Shot-2022-02-10-at-11.12.01-PM.png)
!["Love at First Shot" host Julie Golob showing the results of her drill designed to target the head of body of a target](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/01f76685afdf6322c880657758eaa59375565b618a1b49a57ccfaf54409f14e8/Screen-Shot-2022-02-10-at-10.56.43-PM.png)
!["Love at First Shot" host Julie Golob and regular guest Nathalie Foster laughing while firing at their targets](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2fefe57fb981068a9c21736da9e39e07cfe09bae08235836e0c325a61c20c794/Screen-Shot-2022-02-10-at-11.14.47-PM.png)
!["Love at First Shot" host Julie Golob and friend high-fiving after a successful drill with an AR-17 semi automatic rifle](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cf75a919ee05b72c3bb36b57afeaa7894769cd6e78ca95e2271228c8892baefb/Screen-Shot-2022-02-10-at-11.09.11-PM.png)
![Example of "Love at First Shot" Illustration style](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/58e1b088ed26a4feffe0cd3c4b02ea0b0e9cb864316ddb9c901b8edb521f0194/Screen-Shot-2022-02-10-at-11.13.11-PM.png)
!["Love at First Shot" guest firing an automatic weapon from a helicopter during a training drill](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3ab721a50c205f6eac3649acffb6aff1ead69611a7a2e16b0b11df88c9df0e3d/Screen-Shot-2022-02-10-at-11.06.57-PM.png)
In fact the NRA is a shining example of the weaponization of identity politics, engaging in myth-making to both expand their membership beyond gentlemen of a certain age and to propigate the myth that white women are living under the constant threat of violent attacks from random criminal thugs. This is not only statistically false (white women are the safest demographic in the US) but it simultaneously creates a new advisary—the mythic “criminal thug” which tragically, because of the racial dynamics in this country, ends up becoming a violent characature of black men. It is not our intention to implicate Jenner as agent of this unfortunate truth—but rather to use her as a site to explore and reveal it. Furthermore, in recent years the NRA had launched NRA Women, a YouTube channel targeting women featuring shows like Love at First Shot Sponsored by Smith and Wesson and Armed and Fabulous, lifestyle shows where women teach other women how to use firearms, with panache no less. You really can’t make this shit up!
We also started to make ad content to populate the world of the publication. MAKE DADDY JEALOUS, a video made in collaboration with daddy’s favorite little girl,
PVSSYHEAVEN, is an example of such content. If you think this is extreme or in bad taste, first of all, thank you! But sadly, we only tweaked the truth enough to make it visible. Below you’ll find that this headline was appropriated from a 1980’s advertisement, along with more ads, targeting minors, from the “I’m the NRA” campaign seen by millions in the USA alone throughout the early 1980s.
There’s a lot more to this project, will update soon…