Image: The Wake of X4, courtesy of artist Gene Stout
Artist, Gene Stout, is completing his NFT and oil painting series entitled A Portrait of Gen X Xenophobes, and we’re asking him to tell us a bit about his inspiration. We think some background will help you appreciate his interview.
What are Xenophobes?
Xenophobia means fear and hatred of strangers (or foreigners). The ancient Greek term means “stranger fearing” and implies an aversion to the unfamiliar. A xenophobe fears anyone who is not like him — and does all he can to avoid or harm the “other.”
Interesting. I told him about my research into cognitive biases. In the modern vernacular, we see xenophobia in the implicit bias with in-group/out-group approaches.
Our chat revealed we should differentiate between xenophobia and racism or classism: a xenophobe fears anything or anyone different (stranger danger). A xenophobe can fear the culture or the expression of the culture. Or the xenophobe can reject the feared stranger within personal circles, as a coworker or classmate, or within the environment, as an opposition to immigration, for example. He or she does not target or feel superior to a particular race or culture. It’s a more subtle “They are unfamiliar. They are not like me. I don’t like that feeling.” However, xenophobia can be the underpinning of bias.
Gene Stout’s Gen X Xenophobe project exaggerates the condition. He has created four characters who fear others who do not experience the world as they do. Everyone who does not approach reality in their twisted manner, who does not agree with their sense of how things should be, is a stranger.
Inspiration
Much of his interpretation relies on the Generation X experience. Here’s what Gene told us:
None of the Xenophobe characters have names. Their pets do, but they don’t! In this nameless state, each represents a particular Gen X coping mechanism. Patrons’ emotional reactions range from laughter to discomfort. I started working on this project years ago — and it’s exploded into an NFT portion — and an oil painting portion.
NFTs? I asked.
Gene told us he is recruiting a programmer so he can launch the NFT portion of the project. He anticipates almost a half a million versions!
It’s been a project, he said. I began the digital work after sketching the characters. Now, I’m concentrating on the oil paintings. I have 26 on canvas and canvas hardboard, ranging in size. I stored the biggest one, which is 47 inches by 67 inches, in my living room!
The Xenophobes
We asked Gene to describe the characters’ personalities. He told us:
Xenophobe 1: The Hypnotized. Includes those individuals addicted to information: social media, a particular news source, or a political party. Includes Gen Xers who read every self-help book ever written, but still need more help. These are the perpetual students. These are the sheeples who follow a line of rhetoric and eschew anyone who does not believe as they do. They have abandoned critical thinking while couching their approach psychological superiority. They suffer from several cognitive biases, including, obviously, confirmation bias. If you do not follow their leaders, their practices (veganism, new age medicine, liberalism or conservatism, agnosticism or atheism…) they have no use for you and are in constant fear of other practices or belief systems. X1’s pet bird adds to the relentless chatter in X1’s world.
Xenophobe 2: The Addicted. Includes those individuals suffering from addiction of any sort: alcohol, nicotine — cigarettes or vaping, sex, and prescription or street drugs. These Gen Xers self-medicate to avoid trauma wounds and life-stress. They make continual excuses for why they need their next hit. Often the addiction is subtle: that need for the Friday glass of wine or that beer for game time. Avoidant personalities, these xenophobes fear anyone who advises a healthy lifestyle or self-help routes to cure the ailment. Tell this Xeno he or she needs help — or that other routes are curative — and you will make their fear list. Can’t you see they are hurting? They much prefer those who will supply them with substances to make the pain go away. They cannot acknowledge the substances dull the pain, but leave the trauma unhealed, while creating new liver, brain, and kidney damage. Like the other Xenophobes, X2 suffers from a string of cognitive biases and cognitive distortions, especially emotional reasoning and the fallacy of control. X2’s cat, who, like his owner, considers himself cool, is as skittish and strung out as his owner.
Xenophobe 3: The Glutton. Often associated with heathendom, X3 is lazy, selfish, and indulgent. He eats everything he sees and refuses to share his bounty. He hasn’t exercised in so long, his legs don’t work. His future is to be carried from his bed through the ceiling by helicopter. But he doesn’t care. These Gen Xers have no self-control for whatever they seek to consume. Society characterizes these Xenos as jolly fat people — always making others laugh. Yet, as in the other Xenos, X3 fears the stranger that is himself or herself. The epitome of self-delusion, X3 attempts self-harm not as a panacea (like X2), but as a shield. This Xeno is the clown; the pain hidden behind the mask. X3 is a burden on everyone — unable to work, reliant on public services, and others to bring more food. As his dog starves, and he’s insulted for not fitting the idealized image of beauty, X3 suffers the cognitive distortions of shoulds, all-or-nothing thinking, and blaming. X3 neglects his dog, leaving it starving and forced to defecate in the hallway.
Xenophobe 4: The Workaholic. X4 doesn’t sleep. He doesn’t eat. X4 works. And works. Career and accomplishment are everything — the only thing. Addicted to making an impact, X4 fears stillness. You would think that it’s a good thing this Xeno doesn’t scroll social media and suffer FOMO as friends and family vacation and socialize. But this Xeno doesn’t experience fear of missing out. This Xeno fears those who are experiencing connection and fun, relaxation and idleness. They are strangers to X4, who compares himself or herself to others, suffering from the cognitive distortion of faulty comparison and shoulds. And that is the X4 downfall: Should have more money. Should have a title. Nothing else matters but that corner office. This Xeno watches the clock until life’s end. X4’s pet fish is easily replaceable and easily ignored while existing under X4’s negligent treatment.
Reflection
We had to ask: Aren’t these characterizations cruel? And aren’t these generalizations of those suffering from trauma and mental illness?
Perhaps, he admitted. He does not intend to criticize or mock these states — and he certainly does not mean to glorify these conditions. His intention was to depict the various ways Gen Xers have attempted to soothe their trauma. He added, Gen Xers will characteristically avoid help — they are independent, distrusting of authority, and have gone at it alone since day one. They believe these lifestyles are solutions. Obviously, they are not getting better.
Like I said, I drew that first image years ago. Just thinking about my friends and myself. We all have reacted to our trauma in one of these ways. Each xenophobe is a bit of myself at one point or another in my life. But, as is characteristic of Gen X, we don’t seek help. We just keep going. The car going 100 miles per hour off the cliff. I wanted to laugh about it, I guess. But I also wanted to speak up about it.
The series is a catharsis for many viewers: someone has noticed the Gen X pain. Considering Gen X is the ignored generation, exposing their suffering, as painful as that might be, is the prescription.
I asked Boomers and Millennials suffer these conditions. Why target Gen X?
Because many Boomers and most Millennials escaped these conditions — while Gen Xers all have one or more of these conditions. Gen X patrons point out who they know who fits which Xeno — and how they, themselves, have these characteristics. The catharsis is happening. I’d like to think my project is helping it along.
Come back to read each Gen X Xenophobe’s personal story. Many Gen Xers find their personal story in one or a few of the characters. Love ’em or not, you can’t help but slow down your car to take a look!
