Breaking the Frame: Emotions Beyond Gender in Sport
Location
FA-152
Start Date
2-5-2025 1:00 PM
Department
Art + Design
Abstract
My work explores the emotional depth of adolescence, a time when feelings are often dismissed or simplified by adult perspectives. Young adulthood is a period of heightened experiences, where triumphs and setbacks are intensely felt. Yet, emotions in teenagers are frequently shaped by rigid gender norms. Boys are discouraged from expressing any form of emotions, while girls are often labeled as overly emotional. Through my photography, I aim to disrupt these stereotypes by capturing the full spectrum of emotions in both teenage boys and girls. Sports provide a powerful lens through which to observe unguarded moments such as exhilaration, disappointment, resilience, and transformation. I have been especially inspired by watching my niece and nephew navigate their teenage years through soccer, witnessing firsthand how emotions unfold differently yet profoundly in both genders. The juxtaposition of boys allowing themselves to feel vulnerability whether in the sting of a loss or the quiet introspection after a mistake. Alongside girls experiencing a sense of power, strength, and command over their own abilities challenges traditional narratives of emotion in sports. These moments of raw honesty and intensity highlight the fluidity of emotion, proving that strength and vulnerability are not bound by gender. In this collection, I focus closely on my subjects’ faces, presented in 30x40 inch images. This large format not only emphasizes facial expressions and body language but also enhances the emotional impact of each image, drawing the viewer into an intimate connection with the subject. The scale amplifies every detail: the furrow of a brow, the tension in a jaw, the flicker of emotion in the eyes ensuring that these raw, unfiltered moments resonate deeply. My work validates these fleeting yet defining moments. I hope to create images that validate the depth of teenage emotions, challenge preconceived notions, and remind us of the power and complexity of youth.
Faculty Sponsor
Nate Mathew
Breaking the Frame: Emotions Beyond Gender in Sport
FA-152
My work explores the emotional depth of adolescence, a time when feelings are often dismissed or simplified by adult perspectives. Young adulthood is a period of heightened experiences, where triumphs and setbacks are intensely felt. Yet, emotions in teenagers are frequently shaped by rigid gender norms. Boys are discouraged from expressing any form of emotions, while girls are often labeled as overly emotional. Through my photography, I aim to disrupt these stereotypes by capturing the full spectrum of emotions in both teenage boys and girls. Sports provide a powerful lens through which to observe unguarded moments such as exhilaration, disappointment, resilience, and transformation. I have been especially inspired by watching my niece and nephew navigate their teenage years through soccer, witnessing firsthand how emotions unfold differently yet profoundly in both genders. The juxtaposition of boys allowing themselves to feel vulnerability whether in the sting of a loss or the quiet introspection after a mistake. Alongside girls experiencing a sense of power, strength, and command over their own abilities challenges traditional narratives of emotion in sports. These moments of raw honesty and intensity highlight the fluidity of emotion, proving that strength and vulnerability are not bound by gender. In this collection, I focus closely on my subjects’ faces, presented in 30x40 inch images. This large format not only emphasizes facial expressions and body language but also enhances the emotional impact of each image, drawing the viewer into an intimate connection with the subject. The scale amplifies every detail: the furrow of a brow, the tension in a jaw, the flicker of emotion in the eyes ensuring that these raw, unfiltered moments resonate deeply. My work validates these fleeting yet defining moments. I hope to create images that validate the depth of teenage emotions, challenge preconceived notions, and remind us of the power and complexity of youth.