Original Project statement
2015
Ourselves is a multimedia project focused on the emotional impact of transgender individuals transitioning to the opposite sex. Although someone whom identifies as transgender may not seek transition, this project will concentrate only on individuals who are actively in transition. Transgender rights have been a relevant topic in public eye as of late. Celebrities such as Laverne Cox from the show Orange is the New Black and former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner have aided in public interest.
Though this topic has had extensive coverage in recent press, I felt that most popular coverage has been about individuals after the long process of transitioning. General interest, it seems, is about how an individual looks or whether they have had reconstructive surgery regarding their sexual organs. Ourselves is designed to shed light on the small day to day conflicts and victories associated with transitioning. The project is being made with the intention of existing as an online multimedia piece. The final result will include documentary video, video journal entries, stills, writings, and links to the blogs of my subjects.
The subjects of Ourselves are Michael Stipkovits and Dane Kunst. Both of them are currently in transition from female to male. Though this process is unique in itself, they’re doing something extraordinary. Mikey and DJ are a couple transitioning together, taking testosterone at the same time. They had vowed to stay together, even as their relationship itself was changing. Before both of them came out as transgender, they identified as a lesbian couple. This process is complicated to do alone and doing it together has brought support and conflict. Although having another to speak to that knows exactly what you’re going through is beneficial, it also brings unwanted comparison and sometimes lack of compassion.
The story of Ourselves has continued to follow Dane and Michael throughout transition. Both have noticed changes in themselves and each other. They don’t speak about the transition to one another as openly as they did in the early phases. Michael moved back to Pittsburgh in April of 2016, alone. Ourselves is titled exactly how it is read, something that is plural yet individual at the same time.