SHOCK Magazine
The objective of this project is to photograph, style and create an editorial shoot for a hypothetical magazine. The next step was to create a cover and spreads for the editorial magazine along with a feature article.
Collaborative work by Kathleen Lancelot, Hansa Hatrote and SK Kaunain Afzal
Why DRAG?
When it came to conceptualise for our editorial article and photoshoot we stumbled across many different subjects, from pop and classical music to Aghori tribe costumes but what struck us the most about drag as our topic was the misconception around it. Drag Culture is extremely famous in the Western society. Drag Queens are celebrities, endorsing brands as huge as MAC cosmetics and hosting their very own reality shows, drag performances are all the rave but when it comes to India: the misconceptions and misogyny around sexuality streams its way to Drag culture too. The worst mindset is thinking that people who do drag as transgenders or “hijras” whereas completely straight men also do drag. Drag is a form of performance art, it’s entertainment, expressionist and completely liberal; to each his own: and this is what we wanted to represent. Drag Culture should be embraced as any other art form, it’s loud but meaningful and has the power to bring change to our very conservative society.
Why Yaikhom as our model?
Yaikhom Sushiel was our first and only choice because we wanted to represent the community with someone who truly belongs to it and fights for it’s values. Sushiel has performed drag under his stage name of Miss Dame Imfala and is a budding Drag artist. We wanted to stay true to our concept of representation and take a model who is from the drag community and would give us true insight into the culture.
Why SHOCK?
Since we wanted to always work on a cultural concept, we figured we would make a magazine that would focus on cultures around the world, things that would invoke thought in the readers, give them a CULTURAL SHOCK and so we gave the magazine the name of SHOCK and aim to deliver the most shocking trends, news and styles.
