In response to the early release of the university rapist, the girl created a photo project
A student at Ithaca College in New York has created a series of pictures dedicated to the early release of university rapist Brock Turner after three months in prison. In January 2015, a former Stanford University student and athlete was found on the campus with a girl who was unconscious. The girl did not remember the act of violence because she was too drunk, and Turner in confused testimony claimed that she was not against sex.
In June, Turner was sentenced to six months in prison, but during the trial he was cleared of rape charges: according to experts, there was no sexual intercourse. The verdict caused a wave of public outrage, including because of a statement posted on Twitter by Turner's father: he asked the court not to punish his son too severely for "20 minutes of action." Turner admitted his guilt, but even after the verdict he insisted that the girl had consented to sex.
22-year-old Yana Mazurkevich created a photo project called It Happens for the media platform Current Solutions, which is engaged in attracting public attention to the problem of sexual violence. Caution: Some pictures may seem too violent and explicit. Ready-made social posters leave no illusions about the fact that there is at least one person who is completely protected from sexual violence.
"It happens suddenly."
"It happens unexpectedly."
A series of pictures was published on Tumblr, and it was liked by more than 110 thousand users. The photo project was also posted on the Current Solutions Facebook page, where it was shared almost 50 thousand times.
"It happens involuntarily."
According to Mazurkevich, she was inspired to create a photo project by a combination of personal experience and the experience of friends who went through the same thing. "There comes a time when it just infuriates you and you want to do something about it," the photographer said.
"It happens to everyone."
According to her, the photos look as if the characters are frozen in motion. The pictures show what is happening in real life. The photographer tried to capture the emotionlessness of the characters, but in such a way that it was clear to the viewer that these are real, real people.
"It happens to anyone."
"And this happens with real people, with loved ones, with those you know," says the photographer.
"It happens anywhere."
Mazurkiewicz says this is her way of saying, "Look. Watch and don't try to ignore it, because it's happening right in front of your eyes."
"It happens whenever."
The photographer did not expect that her photo project would have such an explosive effect.
"It happens for no reason."
Previously, Mazurkevich had another photo project called Dear Brock Turner ("Dear Brock Turner"), also jointly with Current Solutions. In it, soiled girls in underwear are holding signs with typical self-accusations of victims ("I should have seen this coming", "I was too friendly", "I was wearing too short a skirt"), and men's hands grab them from behind.
"It happened."
"I am touched that many people have decided to share their stories with me, and for me this is progress," says the photographer. — There should be a discussion, and I am very glad that people are coming out of their comfort zone to speak out and start a discussion."
Keywords: Punishment | Violence | Rapist | Crime | Students | Usa | Prison