Kòktèl
Kòktèl (Haitian Creole for "cocktail") is an artistic exploration that delves into the diversity of masculinity. Just as a cocktail conjures images of vibrant colors, enticing flavors, and a fusion of diverse elements, the photographer visually expresses these facets through an interplay of hues and dynamic movements.
The thread, gracefully bending, crossing, and extending around the subject's body, serves as an evocative metaphor. At times, it poignantly captures the inner turmoil experienced by different men, while in other instances, it symbolizes the intricate web they weave in defining their individuality.
Each caption beneath the captivating images represents the perspectives of those who identify as 'male' or 'masculine,' providing an insightful window into their thoughts and interpretations of masculinity. This series serves as a celebration of the multifaceted nature of masculinity, embracing its diversity and captivating essence.
"Hypermasculinity prevents us men from being our true selves:
'To be a real man, you can't be vulnerable, both emotionally and physically. You have to be this flying, combusting ball of raw Angus beef, 24/7'.
As men, we tell each other the lie that there's only one way to function as human beings, for the sake of bullshit societal norms that only persist because we let them, hurting everyone else on the gender spectrum in the process.
What a shitty, boring life that must be. "
Mutatayi, 22 (@tshizimba)
“A man cooking, taking care of others, doing household chores or any other activities considered for women doesn't take away his masculinity from him. Whoever thinks otherwise, humbly lacks maturity, and has remained in lost times.
Unfortunately, the influence of certain beliefs and lines of thoughts puts the brake on the evolution of the homo-sapiens.
It prevents us from looking at reality in its totality, and especially in total objectivity."
Arturo, 72
"Well first of all masculinity is promoted differently amongst different race groups.
White people are "allowed" to be sensible or vulnerable and are allowed to be strong and tough : nerds/nopeless romantics or machos/soldiers.
But with black men, we are expected to be strong, not express too much emotions, be aggressive, mean, big and bad. The thug/criminal/bully.
Reasons to that come from the Jim Crow era with slavery and to how we are represented in day to day media.
We have "masculinity molds" that we have to fit in too and get demonized if we happen to not fit the role. If we happen to be in touch with our femininity more.
Hypermasculinity deems anything "feminine" as below or inferior.
This idea that black men are being emasculated by an imaginary gay agenda is extremely ignorant and homophobic.
Gender identity and gender expression are two different things but aren't mutually exclusive.
A man who identifies as a man can express femininely and comfortably and still be secure with their sexuality. But that is a reality that isn't promoted enough and in result confuses people.
Black men aren't allowed to be children for a very long time. They are seen as men as early as like 9-10 years old.
To relate it to my experience with masculinity and gender, I've always liked putting towels on my head when I was kid and pretending I was shakira belly dancing.
But when I learned that this type of behavior would get me fucked up I reserved that type of expression for the bedroom or the shower.
Thankfully I've deconditioned my mind and now know better than to give a fuck."
Terry, 18 (@chivengi)
"I feel like there's a lot of violence attached to hypermasculinity.
I am a black queer cis-man, and I had an uncle tell me as kid, that if anyone one was gay, he'd beat you.
When you hear that, you develop shame for yourself, you internalize homophobia; you are silenced in your house.
It's ironic that it happens in the home that reminds you how much you're loved."
Axandre, 24
"Embodiment of true masculine energy is not and will never be how it's been portrayed by any men on this planet.
Being a male is vast and not limited to just one way of being.
We all exist here to add something to it, channel something different or mirroring a type that has been already anchored in our society.
What type of man you get to be is a choice or a combination of choices and ideals, a process of finding the perfect version of self as you become different variations of "male" throughout the years.
All of us aren't meant to fit the same criteria.
A lion can't just come and say to a snake that it needs to be a lion-snake.
They don't share the same genes, therefore they cannot be the same.
Same goes for us men, the good thing with our psyche and physiology is that it's all programmable we can be very flexible in our way of being, picking up notions from the good and even from the worse form of criticisms.
I am very aware of my hyper-masculinity but that doesn't stop me from feeling sexy, being calm, creative and relaxed at all time, all that just by tapping in the feminine part of my soul.
We're all magnificent beings and I think that as long one is not faking it, his polarities will be felt by all and respected anyway, even if they're unbalanced his authenticity is all that matters. "
Jerry, 26 (@jerryxxwolf)
"What I do know is that society categorizes men as the dominant male and I am against thinking that men are dominant. There is no dominant gender for me, just equal beings to whom different tasks are attributed.
Let's consider for example the prototype of the family : men are the head of the family. I consider that normal, but that doesn't mean that our word is holy. What I mean is that society has made men an instrument of authority, that must behave in a certain way, in order to meet the requirements of the needs of the system."
Glenn, 23