Breaking stereotypes though creative outlets has been a way of forming and transforming culture gaining more and more importance in recent time. With the possibilities of expressing oneself free from prejudices being increasingly put under threat by certain media outlets, politicians, or other opinion leaders, providing a varied display of identity has become the quest of a lot of creatives. That’s why with their latest editorial “How to become a real man” stylist Cherise Soesman and photographer Yavez Anthonio want to shine light on the diversity of black masculinity and manhood in the 21st century, a topic gaining more and more attention within popculture.
Grace Wales Bonner subverts the stereotype of black males through clothing and her boundary pushing fashion shows, stylists like Ib Kamara and photographers like Campbell Addy put together tender shoots to capture a new sense of their self. “How to become a real man” equally deconstructs stereotypes of gender and ethnicity created by society – it still is a considered stereotype that black boys must grow up masculine. For Soesman and Anthonio it are primarily three concepts of masculinity that need to be subverted: dress, beauty ideals, and behavior. Exploring what it means to be a “real man”, they are looking to show black man in all variations, with the purpose to tell the younger generation of boys growing up to just be you, whatever that may be…
And watch the videos of the photo-shoot:
Concept & Styling CHERISE SOESMAN, Photography & Film YAVEZ ANTHONIO, Styling assistant FLORIEN OOST, Make-up SYLVIA STIGTER, Models IAN COMVALIUS, NAVARONE COLE, DENZEL FEURICH, Clothing WEEKDAY, NOBODYHASTOKNOW
