With hopes to do a shoot based on modern masculinity I wanted to expand my knowledge on what it means to be masculine, sterotypes and feelings men themselves have towards the subject. I thought this would give me some inspiration on how to capture genuine photograph  and choose the right model to capture. I read the book ‘Mask Off Masculinity Redefined’ by JJ Bola, the book covered topics such as mental health, sex and gender equality and linked to my worked as it was aimed a young men in particular. What I liked about the book was how it broadened my knowledge on insecurities and self esteem issues men face and how this links to mental health struggles and emotional problems men face throughout their lives, a topic I was already passionate and aware of but wanted to find out more about. To me the author was tyring to change the meaning of masculinity and break down why we have a unrealisitc concept of what i means to be manly. The book to me could inspire a shoot based on masculinity with slight links to activism as it touches on topics such as LGBTQ and men of colour. I believe men not confirming to these sterotypes, being in touch with emotional, mental health, their culture, race, sexuality are all ways men fight against toxic masculinity, sterotypes and redfine what it means.

  

Derek Ridgers is a photographer who also captured nightlight in 1980’s of youth but his work focused more on documenting subcultures. I looked at photographs from his book ‘The Others’, what stood out to me about the images were how raw, intimate and self expressive they were. The images often captured youth dancing, kissing, smoking and being rebellious. As you keep studying the images you begin to focus on what the youth are wearing, their actions, facial expressions and the background. To me the subjects individuality is really documented and the images have an incredibly atmospheric feel to them. I think the images show youth in a vulnerable, real way as some of the subjects seem unbothered and unaware their photo is being taken which creates extremely pure images. The images being in black and white further emphasize the subjects and the  80’s era.  I think the meaning behind the images is self expression, adolesence and rebellion. 

I also researched about the ‘Party Out Of Bounds’ exhibition which included archive material such as photography, videos and paintings of nightlife during the 80’s. It helped me understand more on how nightlife was a way of activism as during the 1980’s their was aids pandemic in which people formed in large gatherings to dance and fight for sexual and gender rights. I feel the exhibition shows clubs in a different light and highlights the importance of them. They are not just places people go to party but they are safe places for people in the community to feel at home in a powerful, political space with like minded indiviudals. 

 

I also researched into rave culture and how it linked to social political and youth activism. History shows how documenting dancing and partying can also capture society and current political states. It also links to activsm as people had to protest for their rights to party and dance and I also believe raves were places where youth went to escape, connect and feel free during britain in the 80’s. I watched the ‘Everybody In The Place’ documentary by Jeremy Deller which showed many archived pieces from pictures, music and video footage of the rave culture era. The film allowed me to witness the protest, gatherings, warehouse parties and understand why they had to portest against this. I also found it interesting how different races would hold their own parties as they were not accepted in certain places. To me the film truly captures britain and how rave culture changed it. It also highlights the important of music and how its brings people together and was a escape for people who were maybe unemployed or struglling in life. The doucmentary inspired me to plan a shoot in a drum and bass club in Brighton. In the images I hope to capture a modern style of rave culture and how music allows young people to be free. I want to photograph people completely absobed and lost in music and photos that depict the youth of today. Youth today have recently been in a uncertain political time in britain which create a lot of feelings of anxiety for the future. Many of the people in the images will be university students who use clubbing to escape from stress, feel free, liberated and alive. 

  
  

 

 

Before planning and undergoing a  shoot based on LGBTQ youth I wanted to educate myselfmore on how it was a form of activism and is the reason there are more rights today and  youth are more comfortable with their sexuality, in the hope I would be able to execute this through the right models and portraits. The stonewall riots was an important historical moment which documented activism and  the power of protesting. I learnt that the riots also helped black power and how it made a big difference to the lives people are able to live today. I also think the riots showed how politcally and socially wrong and judged people were to be gay. Researching this inspired me to want to do a shoot of a young queer couple or LGBTQ activists. Studying in Brighton I think a shoot couple be excuted in a gay bar to link to riots or intimate street portaits to depict how it is slightly more socially acceptable and overall create an empowering series. 

 

Gillian Wearing’s ‘Dancing In Peckham’ is a film where she filmed herself dancing in the middle of a shopping centre. To me this is a striking piece of film which has subtle links to social activism as it goes against something we are use to seeing in normal social behaviour and is proven by the people in the background reactions. What stands out to me the most is how Gillian is dancing to no sound and the actions of the passers by. I think their reactions are interesting and how no one asked why she was dancing or stopped to stare. It makes me wonder what they are thinking, who are they, where are they going. The compostion in the video is very busy and passers by are caught on camera and sometimes walking in front of the shot which also leads your eye to focus on different things such as how the passers by are dressed and their facial expressions. The piece tells me that Gillian is a very brave individual, as it must of been a very intimdating experience and it makes me question personal indentity. The video also makes me question society now and how passers by would react if they saw someone doing that today. Would passers begin to film, laugh, join in, stop her? 

 

Gillian Wearing’s ‘Signs’ series documents society and their thoughts. I like how she has photographed complete strangers and allowed them to share intimate, personal thoughts about their lives , which I feel create very natural,social and historical photographs. The images clearly depicts society and britan in the 90’s which also allowed people to express their opion on social, politics, class and the economy at the time. What stands out to me the most in the images are the subjects facial expressions,surroundings,body language and what they have written on the piece of paper. It interesting how in some cases the physical appearence of the indiviudals does not match what they have written and this shows how people can often be judged and there is a difference between the two. Photographing people in the street also creates extremley vulnerable images and you can see the awkwardness in her subjects when being asked to be photographed in public. 

 

Matt Lambert is a photographer whose work often focuses on queer youth and celebrates gender fluidity and sexuality. I particulary like his berlin youth series as the images are very natural and to me capture people who are comfortable in their own skin. A lot of his images are very close up portraits which create a very intimate and personal feel. Some of the images are shot in black and white which puts all the focus on the subjects and links to the soft mood. The off focus adds to the images feeling very raw and natural. It relates to the facial expresses and poses of his models as they are often shot in natural light, laughing or looking away from the camera as if they are not ready for their photograph to be taken. What interests me about these images are they are people all from the same city who consider themselves to be a part of the LGBTQ community but the images do not sterotype or force them into a category. Each person looks the same, captured in the same way which shows how we are all the same and should be treated and viewed the same regaress of our sexuality. The meaning behind the images to me to capture how  the modern world is becoming more accpeting and are about empowerment.