OPEN CALL ‘FAUNA’
STACY KRANITZ
‘The Louisiana Cockfighter’s Manual’
Presented with the violent spectacle, the camera is as versatile as it is potent. It can expose the aggressors of the world or aggrandize them; it can redeem victims or humiliate them further; it can create empathy in the viewer, render them complicit, or simply desensitize them. I have attempted to explore how these effects co-exist within images of Louisiana Cockfighters that construct and participate in a theater of violence. I am interested in how, far from concealing their violence, this subculture self-consciously dramatizes it through their daily rituals, habits, and pastimes, thereby implicating the photographer and viewer as consumers of that violence.
Clifford Geertz’ essay, “Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight”, explores how Balinese cockfighters use their sport to sublimate their social conflict. Just like the Balinese, the Louisiana cockfighters vicariously create their own hierarchies of honor and status through the victories and defeats of their birds — “a status blood bath,” as Geertz puts it. Also like the Balinese, the Louisiana cockfighters are now seen as simple aggressors, despite the close emotional bond they share with their birds. Where cockfighting used to take place on the White House lawn, it was finally outlawed on American soil last August. The images seek to explore what the spectacle means now that its particular brand of violence has come to be seen as unnecessary and meaningless. In the process, the photographs attempt to show how these men have gone from producers of violent spectacles to sad, emasculated subjects who have unwillingly become spectacles themselves.
‘FAUNA’ is a new call open to any suggestions on photographic series related to animals. We will be posting the best submissions on Urbanautica and related channels. Deadline is February 18th. One project selected from among those submitted will be published and printed on the 4th issue 4 of “Stand Quarterly” magazine together with the works of Alec Soth, Céline Clanet, Vincent Fournier and Trine Søndergaard. Stand is an advertisement-free photographic journal showcasing the work and thoughts of various contemporary photographers from all areas of the world. Submissions of the series are welcome at info@urbanautica.com or directly on our facebook page. Steve Bisson curator and art director of Urbanautica will also be selecting works for future exhibitions. The selection is made on series (full project). Yet we accept single images to share with our readers here on facebook… Thank you all and best wishes!!!
© Stacy Kranitz