CODPIECE EVERYWHERE
Materials: Various fabrics from different men's clothing, broken basketball from primary school, Monster Energy Cans, Calvin Klein underwear, Padding, rubber cords, feathers, pearls, Soviet badges, metal rings
Photographed by Winfried Reinhardt & Benedikt Adler
Film made by Richard Rotfuss
I use codpiece as a base form to explore how men show their masculinity and which external objects they choose to construct their public roles today, especially their dress and body-related items. The codpiece was a special accessory for men to flaunt their virile masculinity throughout European history. There is a rich cultural message in the codpiece and the way people decorate themselves with it also reveals the image of their perceived inner selves. Codpiece is no longer common in daily life, but the externalisation of masculinity that it represents still exists in different forms.
GREY SWEATPANTS CODPIECE
What is the intention of some men to wear grey sweatpants deliberately? Is the size presented from the outer outline the same as the actual size on the inside? Or does it not matter what it really looks like, because the visual size has satisfied their quest for virility and caught the eye of others.
BASKETBALL CODPIECE
The object itself can create an association. What kind of imagery does a basketball bring to mind? Does it belong to a man?
FOOTBALL LABEL CODPIECE
Football is seen as the most masculine sport, does labeling football elements help men to counteract some of the other behaviours that diminish masculinity?
PEARL NECKLACE CODPIECE
Pearl necklace is becoming a new trend for men, is it possible that this could lead to a shift in the dominant masculinity model?
MEDALS CODPIECE
Wearing a colorful decorative element are generally considered to be inconsistent to masculinity, but a medal is one of the few decorations that men do not refuse. Do they just need a reason that doesn't deviate from mainstream masculinity?
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(UN)NATURAL CODPIECE
The external decoration of males in human society is to some extent in opposition to males in nature. Men reinforce their masculinity by removing adornment.
MILITARY STYLE CODPIECE
For some men, the reinforcement of mainstream socially expected masculinity is one of their intentions when wearing military style clothing?
Calvin Klein CODPIECE
Men care that others know their small size. With padding men are no longer small.
MONSTER ENERGY DRINK CAN CODPIECE
Men like to show the size of their penises by comparing them to objects in their daily lives. Have you reached "MONSTER"?