Transfigurations: The Award-Winning Photodocumentary

[Duncan Grant]

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Transfigurations
Artist's statement -- Jana Marcus

Transfigurations aims to illuminate who transgender people are, a subject which the mainstream culture has often shadowed in mystery and misunderstood. Navigating the waters of gender politics, the work also explores what comprises masculinity and femininity. The knowledge transgender people have acquired speaks to bridging a gap between the sexes. They have experienced the world from both a female and a male perspective. They have created for themselves what they believe masculinity and femininity to be, and they have found the courage to be who they believe they were born to be, despite daunting odds, ridicule, hate-crimes and murder.

To be transgendered is to transcend gender boundaries in our society. The strict binary boundaries of what is male and female in our culture start as early as birth, when pink or blue colors are chosen for infants. However, what if you knew from an early age you were a boy, but your body was developing as a female? What if the whole world saw you differently than you saw yourself? The transgender individual’s experience has often been traumatic. Many have lost their families, their partners, their children, and their jobs. In addition, they have questioned their religions and undergone painful surgeries, all in the name of becoming "whole"—to have their appearance on the outside match who they are on the inside. They have gone against the status-quo to find truth and balance in themselves, no matter what the cost. For many it has been a "do or die" situation.
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http://www.jlmphotography.com/recent.html

Click the "Transfigurations" link on the left.

This is a great (and important) photodocumentary about Trans people. I loved it and thought it would be a great reference for DUers everywhere.

[1620rock]

1. Enlightening, thanks for posting.

[Duncan Grant]

7. You're welcome.

The photodocumentary format is perfect for the internet -- especially at a place like DU.

[undergroundpanther]

2. Cool

I'll check it out! thanks.

[undergroundpanther]

3. Very good photography

And kinda amazing too I saw two guys in that photo link that look if combined , frighteningly like me.wow.dayum. I am so glad I have gotten my chest fixed.Looking forward to being able to feel the sun on my back again.

[Duncan Grant]

6. I'm so glad everyone involved stepped-up and "came-out".

These photos and life stories are an opportunity for people to reconnected with their humanity regarding trans issues. Even at DU, there's a lot of ignorance about trans people (and g/l/b people, too).

Hopefully, this will help enlighten some to the realities of trans lives.

[Zuiderelle]

4. Those are amazing stories and pictures.

Thanks for this.

[Duncan Grant]

5. Glad you liked it.

I've been meaning to say hello to you but I never seem to make time to introduce myself to anyone these days. I'm familiar with your posts and appreciate the perspective you offer.

Hopefully, we'll have a chance to ally from time to time on the "juicy" stuff here at DU!

[Zuiderelle]

8. Thank you

There is some pretty juicy stuff here. Happy to welcome an ally.

[Corkey Mineola]

9. You bring a lot of class and intelligence to DU

Thanks!

and you're sexy too!

[Duncan Grant]

10. Thank you.

You're not so bad yourself.

[Corkey Mineola]

11. awww thanks

[UncleSepp]

12. Thank you - got tears now

The slides of older transfolk really grabbed me. Looking at this man's eyes:

http://www.jlmphotography.com/recent/TransPresentation/...

I felt something that I've never really felt before - a sense of the future. Of having a future. I'm in my mid thirties now, and for all my life, I could only see as far as being about 33 or 34. I couldn't conceive of it. I think I can now. It looks good

[LeftHander]

13. Awesome...

I just contacted Jana to see about brining the exhibition to my UU Church gallery.