Statement by Georgia Kasamias:
These photographs, taken on film, seek to capture the complexity of female energy. To be a woman—that is, to identify as a woman—is to be the “other” in many instances in our society. Although much progress has been made via legal actions towards equality, women are still subjected to the male gaze. Our primary success is our looks. Accomplishments of other forms come secondary. As a female photographer, I am aware, then, of my own gaze. Am I reproducing the male gaze? As a photographer, am I simply trying to portray women as beautiful? Or as sexy? Or as fuckable?
Moreover, am I only representing a heteronormative demographic? Am I inclusive of women of color? Or transwomen? Does it even matter? Photographers represent others, and the politics of representation are not easily waded through. I have no easy answers.
And so it goes.
The photographs represented here reveal women who hold their own gaze. Gazes not paying heed to the photographer, and bodies not posing to be anything else but themselves. Only does my self-portrait reveal eyes looking directly at the lens, critical of my own gaze.
Georgia Athanasios Kasamias is a senior at Youngstown State University, studying English, Spanish, and Religious Studies. She also copyedits for the academic publication, the Journal of Religion & Violence. She is enthralled by hearing others’ stories, traveling, shooting (& developing) film photography, as well as hiking. Her favorite novel currently is Americanah by the Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (the novelist who was featured in Beyonce’s song “Flawless”).