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Body Alchemy: Transsexual Portraits[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Background
[edit]About Cameron's own life, his start in photography, how he got the idea for this project
In many of the self-portraits, the shutter-release bulb is visible. Cameron used a shutter-release bulb because he typically worked alone. He did not attempt to conceal the bulb. In the introduction to Body Alchemy, Cameron explains that he sees the bulb as a metaphor: "I am creating my own image alone, an act that reflects the transsexual experience as well."[7]
Summary
[edit]Body Alchemy depicts transition and the everyday lives of transgender men through photographs. In the introduction, Loren Cameron describes his working-class upbringing, his passion for photography, and his transition.
The first half of the book is mostly full of self-portraits. The "Self-Portraits" section includes portraits of Cameron in a variety of poses and outfits: carrying a flag, breaking a glass bottle against a fence, holding a gun to his head. Each photograph is accompanied by a few paragraphs of Cameron's writing, typically either a relevant anecdote or reflection. "God's Will" contains photographs of a nude Cameron posing like a bodybuilder. In one photo, he injects testosterone into his buttock. In "Distortions," photographs of a shirtless Cameron are framed by transphobic statements. On these pages, Cameron's image is boxed in by phrases such as "My attraction to you doesn't mean I'm gay: You're really a woman"[8] and "You must be some kind of freak".[9]
In the second half of the book, Loren Cameron also includes the photographs and stories of other trans people. In "The New Man Series," Cameron photographs everyday transgender men. Each man also provides a short anecdote about his transition related to the picture. For example, a man named Matt Rice describes his experience working at a gay biker bar; he poses with a motorcycle for his photograph.[10] The section "Our Bodies" depicts anonymous photographs of transgender men's genitalia and chests. Two subjects have undergone metoidoplasty, while a third has undergone phalloplasty. Another man photographed has not pursued bottom surgery; instead, he uses genital piercings to restructure his genitalia. This section also includes two photographs of men who have pursued top surgery with different surgical techniques. In "Fellas," Loren Cameron interviews his subjects about their jobs and hobbies. Men photographed include an electrician, a police officer, and a professor. The section "Emergence" also contains text from interviews with trans men. Each describes his transition and his sexuality. The text is paired with a photo of each man before and after his transition. The final section, "Duo," contains photos of Loren Cameron and Kayt, his partner at the time. Photographs are accompanied by statements from each person about gender, sexuality, and their relationship. In the book, Kayt describes herself as "FTM-identified"[a] and also as a member of the lesbian community.[11][12]
Reception
[edit]Immediate reactions to the book
Body Alchemy received two Lambda Literary Awards in 1996. It won the Small Press Award and the Transgender Award. It was also shortlisted for the Photography/Visual Arts Award. (use existing citation on pg)
Impact
[edit]Impacts on trans visibility, trans male culture in the USA
Notes
[edit]- ^ FTM stands for "female-to-male"
References
[edit]- ^ Shuman, R. Baird (2007). "Loren Cameron". Guide to Literary Masters and Their Works. Salem Press.
- ^ Cameron, Loren (May 25, 1999). "Portrait of a Man". Advocate. No. 786. p. 46. ISSN 0001-8996.
- ^ Corinne, Tee A. (1997). "Person or Persona". Lambda Book Report. 5 (9): 14. ISSN 1048-9487.
- ^ Query, Julia (1997). "Candid Cameron". Women's Review of Books. 14 (12): 26. doi:10.2307/4022788. ISSN 0738-1433.
- ^ Caio Jade Puosso Cardoso Gouveia Costa (2020). "Retratos masculinos: Sobre Loren Cameron, Yukio Mishima e Johnny vai à guerra". Periódicus (in Portuguese). 1 (13): 115–130. doi:10.9771/peri.v1i13.35694. ISSN 2358-0844.
- ^ Kate Bornstein (May 12, 1994). "Did Anyone Notice the Boys?". Bay Area Reporter. Vol. 24, no. 19. pp. 33–34.
- ^ Cameron 1996, p. 13.
- ^ Cameron 1996, p. 30.
- ^ Cameron 1996, p. 31.
- ^ Cameron 1996, pp. 36–37.
- ^ Cameron 1996, p. 102.
- ^ Cameron 1996, p. 106.
Bibliography
[edit]- Cameron, Loren (1996). Body Alchemy: Transsexual Portraits. Cleis Press. ISBN 978-1-57344-062-2.