Reimagining Sex Work is a feminist, activist collaborative project between sex workers, journalists and photographers. The goal is to create acceptance of sexual freedom and diversity by presenting a nuanced picture of people working in the sex industry. We focus on different target groups and different aspects of portrayal. We often see the same photos in many news articles about sex work. Through conversations with image editors, we discovered that there is a basic reason for this. There is hardly any usable image material available in the image banks of journalism. Influencing the image is crucial to stop stigma, discrimination and violence against sex workers. Media makers are Important allies in raising awareness and recognition of sexual freedom. During this still mondial project we connect sex workers and press photographers and together they are developing a sex worker inclusive image bank. For more information about the project, the media guide and the photography exhibition: https://reimaginingsexwork.nl/
If flashing your penis is an act of sexual violence, why are unsolicited “dick pics” so ubiquitous in our society? The disconnect between the body and the image of the body leads to a disconnect between the action of sending a dick pic and the responsibility for this action. This is due, in large part, to the tacit social acceptability of “dick pics”, it seems more acceptable to send a “dick pic” than to flash somebody.
Masculinity has long been associated with penises. In this way, sending a “dick pic” can be viewed as a display of masculinity. This displaying of masculinity is frequently done without context, this causes the receiver of the “dick pic” to be immediately aware of their own objectification by others. Conversations opened with a “dick pic” are an immediate display of violence and objectification; analogous to having a brick thrown through your window.
Through unsolicited Brick Pic, I explore this disconnect between the physical world and the online world. By printing the “dick pic” onto a physical object, I bridged the divide between the two worlds: reconnecting the violence of flashing with the sending of a “dick pic” online.
A brick is not just a symbol of permanence and strength but also a symbol of oppression and resistance, especially to the queer community. “According to legend, it was a piece of brick hurled at police officers outside of the Stonewall Inn that sparked the historic uprising.” Using a brick recognises the prevalence of unsolicited (1) dick pics in the queer community. Highlighting this further, I chose to work with queer models, all of whom spoke to me about their experiences of receiving unsolicited “dick pics”.
queer red presents!
