A trans man in focus - how "SO WHAT?!" came about
Marc, this is the first time you've told a transTrans (short for transgender or transident) describes people whose gender identity does not match the gender they are assigned. Mehr man an entire photo project. What inspired you to go down this path with Jonah?
What I liked about Jonah was his KindThe abbreviation ART stands for antiretroviral therapy. - It refers to the treatment of an HIV infection with special medication that prevents the... Mehr to smile, despite all the surrounding hatred and the foul-smelling undertones we are currently experiencing. His zest for life, his sexy-bad-boy attitude are, in my view, the most beautiful defence against trans-hostility: Jonah feels comfortable in his own skin. How exciting is that! When he plays the macho guy in front of the camera, it's a KindThe abbreviation ART stands for antiretroviral therapy. - It refers to the treatment of an HIV infection with special medication that prevents the... Mehrto deconstruct classic masculinity. I accompanied Jona for two years - to the boxing gym where he trains and, of course, to the changing room. The latter is one of my favourite places to dispel clichés. I also photographed Jona in his private sphere. This book is not a biography of Jonah, but rather a collection of stages in his life that we staged together. We even chose the kangaroo briefs he wears in some of the pictures together.
Boxing, body awareness and self-confidence as a trans man
Jona, most of the pictures were taken in the boxing gym where you train. When did you discover boxing for yourself? Did this sport and its particular aesthetic shape your own masculinity?
What I really like about martial arts, apart from the physical skills and the self-confidence you gain, is the ritualistic character. Of course, I have my problems with classic queer authorities. Nevertheless, I like the idea of a hierarchy that is ideally completely independent of GenderGender describes the social gender of a person. It describes how people experience and express their gender identity - regardless of ... MehrThe basic agreement is that everyone respects each other. Those who have more strength and experience have to orientate themselves towards those who have not been around as long and respect their limits. My first dojo was in Bremen, where I trained as Jona and as him. But my physical transition came much later. I was never questioned in the dojo. It was all about learning together. What martial arts, and boxing in particular, gives me has little to do with gender. I don't experience my masculinity in the ring, but rather my ambition, my affinity for sport and, of course, my quirky idea of a perfect body - but more in terms of strength, speed, muscles, stamina and skills. Counter question: Why do many men have problems being physically close to other men - unless they are half naked, sweaty and slapping each other on the nose? Tenderness, closeness and a certain homoeroticism. That's what boxing is all about, isn't it?
Reactions to the visibility of a trans man in photography
Marc, in the book you write that you lose followers on Instagram every time you post a photo of Jonah. How do you feel about that?
On Instagram, the majority of my followers are men who love men. In other words: Men who have a penis. Unfortunately, some of my followers are obviously not ready to accept a pluralistic masculinity. Some comments coming from gay men sound like those of the most radical conservatives. When I started posting pictures of Jonah and got negative reactions, I felt it was a KindThe abbreviation ART stands for antiretroviral therapy. - It refers to the treatment of an HIV infection with special medication that prevents the... Mehr Betrayal. An injustice. So the theme of " SO WHAT?!" became both political and erotic. My approach here is the same as that of my other works about masculinity. So in "SO WHAT?!" there is sweat, body hair and testosterone. And Jona is proud of the fact that even the most stubborn of men get their knickers in a twist when they look at his pictures. His post-mastectomy scars are also a symbol of his journey as a man.
What trans masculinity means - perspectives of a trans man
Jona, masculinity has never been criticised and deconstructed as much as it is today. As a photographer, Marc continues to deal with masculinity. Did you feel it was important or necessary to allow Marc to engage with your masculinity, and therefore with transTrans (short for transgender or transident) describes people whose gender identity does not match the gender they are assigned. Mehr to deal with masculinity?
Jonah : I think it's very important that deconstruction of masculinity is not just about cisCis or cisgender describes people whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. Mehr reserved for men. Just as feminism aims to liberate all genders, the idea of a new, freer masculinity must be open to all people. Maybe it starts with professional footballers who wear nail varnish. But what about the transTrans (short for transgender or transident) describes people whose gender identity does not match the gender they are assigned. Mehr Men who are denied their trans status in psychological assessments because they like to wear make-up and don't orientate themselves towards a rigid binary cis-masculinity? I think Marc's work is wonderful and I see it as being in a constant state of change or process, growing through the new perspectives that the models bring with them. For me it seemed as if transTrans (short for transgender or transident) describes people whose gender identity does not match the gender they are assigned. Mehr Masculinity is a blind spot for him. What happens when masculinity is not deconstructed but constructed from the ground up? When the certainty of being a man is not based on physicality and at the same time tries not to fall into the role cliché trap? I wanted to explore this perspective and make the results visible.
Marc : I don't believe that being masculine and muscular is necessarily toxic. And I don't think it's unhealthy to be attracted to masculine attributes. For me, it's problematic when being "masculine" makes you feel superior to others. Even within the community: that's the problem. That's what I want to fight with my work at all costs.
Exhibition success - when a trans man is visibly celebrated
How was the exhibition perceived in Berlin, in the Eisenherz bookshop?
Jonah : We've never had so many reactions to an exhibition at Eisenherz, as my colleagues have confirmed. We got people talking and encouraged them to ask questions, which made me very happy. In general, the feedback ranged from "thank you very much for your openness and for taking people by the hand and inviting them in" to "it's so great to see yourself represented and to see a possible perspective for the future". transTrans (short for transgender or transident) describes people whose gender identity does not match the gender they are assigned. Mehr (masculine) life, that's encouraging!" Eisenherz always has a monthly bestseller list and in November our book was at the top with over 65 copies sold. That's a great feeling and remains a sign: transTrans (short for transgender or transident) describes people whose gender identity does not match the gender they are assigned. Mehr Men have a place next to the cisCis or cisgender describes people whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. Mehr Gays, are in demand and are valued.
The aim of "SO WHAT?!" - What a trans man and a photographer want to achieve
Marc, what do you want with the book?
" SO WHAT?!" is intended to be uncomfortable, both through its poetic and its frontal, sexual aspect. I want this mixture of text and photography to encourage people to think, to reflect on their own fears and prejudices. And that the book transTrans (short for transgender or transident) describes people whose gender identity does not match the gender they are assigned. Mehr and cisCis or cisgender describes people whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. Mehr I want to bring people together so that we can stand up together against intolerance and stupidity. I worked a lot with Mathis Chevalier, a former MMA champion, a sport that is not known to be squeamish when it comes to openness. I photographed Mathis and Jona together because of their shared passion for martial arts. When Mathis carries Jona in the ring, it's like a victory that they both flaunt. Their sexually charged attitude blows up the picture. As a photographer, I am still convinced that beautiful pictures can also change people's minds.
" SO WHAT ?! "Marc Martin & Jona James, Agua, 68 pages, 35 euros
The book is available in the Berlin bookshop Eisenherzand on the website of the Agua publishing house available.
Transparency note: Annabelle Georgen wrote the foreword to the book
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