Homosexuality: An issue to be addressed.

This is our Photography project for our Humanities course. Three things to clarify before reading our report. (1) I am heterosexual and so are my models; (2) This is genre photography (The models just posed without truth in the way they think or feel); (3) I have no intentions to offend anyone. Please enjoy reading.

Suppression of Homosexuality

Photograph by: Antonio Eriberto Cabug
Subjects/Models: Kennex Rey Monsanto and William Miguel Locañas. September 1, 2009

The photograph, Suppression of Homosexuality, has basic elements of visual art. The paths of the lines are changing abruptly in direction, evident in the upper and lower extremities of the subjects. Thus, there is tension and a sense of conflict and confusion in them. Aside from the lines, space is also organized. There is boundary between the building with the ground full of people and the empty sky. Linear perspective is evident. Though the vanishing point is not shown, it exists when the photo is extended to the right-hand side. There are also principles of design in this work of art. There is a partially symmetrical balance. Even if not exactly symmetrical, it resembles a mirrored image when a line is drawn in the middle. The subjects are emphasized by their light colored shirt that illuminates them. Their form also gives emphasis and resemblance to the tree. The position of the hands catch attention. Proportion is life-like. Rhythm, on the other hand is shown in the windows of the buildings.

The photograph explicitly shows the discrimination and rejection experienced by homosexuals in the society. Despite numerous reforms in the name of liberalization has occurred in history, the sentiments of homosexuals were least if not heard at all. In fact, certain ordinances in provincial local governments give restrictions to homosexuality (i.e. Islamic city of Marawi).From the background, The UST Main building with its ages -old architecture was strategically placed there to represent the traditional institutions that give rise to conservative societies. The people in the background are the society itself – indifferent about the minority or the marginalized sectors. The path, diagonally depicted, which shows action is the swift movement of time. Though the time moves forward fast, the conservative society doesn’t lose its grip on it. Moving to the subjects, the abruptly changing directions of lines are reinforced by the confused and tensed facial expressions of the subjects that manifest their emotions. These expressions are the results of the things they wonder. Questions like, “Is there something wrong with me?”, “Am I immoral?”, and “Why does my feelings tell me I am right if I am wrong?”, could be read in their expressions. The tree trunk with the ropes that tie the wrists of the lovers are the forces of the norms that pulls them away from each other. This is antagonistic to their love. But the love knows no force, no matter how it resists. Despite the fact that they don’t look each other with affection, probably due to the shame and rejection that it will cause, their hands are bound with love. The love is secret, hidden in their hearts, but this love is true.

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Things I forgot to integrate in my report: (1)The trash can was left there to show how society ignores this sector and (2)The two girls whose hands seem to hold each other were not intentionally placed there. It happened by fate.