Hi! My name is Franziska and I studied photography with a focus on experimental art and documentary photography / photo journalism in Berlin. This website is part of my bachelor thesis, together with a photo book and a scientific, written analysis of the topic (have a look under the menu point “book”). This project is very close to my heart, because menstruating is good and important and it has made me sad and angry for a long time that the communication about it is way too often way too negative. I am actually a trained nutrition and health advisor, but then I did commissioned photography as a freelance photographer for years and stood behind cameras for fetish productions (yep, that escalated quickly), until at some point I got a scholarship for my dream study and now sometimes also work for VICE (the link leads to a photo report about how homeless people deal with periods). So: no wonder this project came out at some point despite everything, haha. I now work as a university lecturer for documentary photography/reportage and experimental nude photography in Berlin. You can find out more about me on my website. Super cool that you’re here :) And BIG THANKS if you’re participating in the project or support it in any way! I promise you to give my very best here. Kiss Kiss <3 Your blood sister Franziska aka @ziskala666
P.S. It's okay if you think that this project sucks. I know that this is not something we discuss over dinner (hmmm). But please be kind and respectful of everyone who supports the project. Especially if it makes you really upset and angry, you should tell your friends about it :) Because the project is mainly there to talk openly about this topic. All opinions are allowed! You're cool and you can do it, please make a little effort. Your mum would be proud of you! Also for you a big THANK YOU.
Abstract for the final thesis – Bachelor of Arts Photography
HOW WE BLEED What does menstruation really look like? A participatory project with menstruating people as a documentary photo collection, contrary to the taboo and mystified depiction of the period in art, photography and the media
From a certain age, everyone knows that there is a menstrual period. But only about half of the world's population knows what this actually looks like. And even that half has many questions: Does it have to look like that? Am I normal? How do I deal with it? Or: Why the hell did I bleed all over myself again? Damn, where do I now get a tampax from? Why TODAY?
Menstruating is neither "pretty" nor pleasant. Menstruation is sometimes a bit disgusting – but mostly only for people who experience it passively, or those who are not adequately or negatively educated about the existential functions of the human body. To menstruate is, above all, necessary, healthy and totally normal. Nevertheless, this process is taking place mostly secretly. But in all that secrecy there is also pride: of the own blood, the knowledge about cycle and fertility, the enduring of pain. This "biological secret" is precious. So, is it right to unveil it and show the world the unadorned truth? The answer is: Yes. Because this secret led to oppression over thousands of years, to damnation, prejudice, mystification, tabooing, sexism, fear and shame. The period has power . It makes menstruating people powerful. The patriarchy fears the period because it does not experience it actively and does not understand it in its complexity. The cure for this fear is unconditional enlightenment, radical feminism and open, brave communication. Menstruation has to be unveiled and taken out of invisibility.
There are debates breaking out online and offline about the social interaction with the period and content creators from all over the world are working creatively on this subject. The visibility of menstruation in art, photography and the media is increasing. The intention of this project is to participate actively with visual means in this public discourse. Menstruating people will be given an opportunity to be part of this important movement in a safe environment. A documentary photo book and a web blog will be designed and created, which include a collection of authentic photographs of menstruation. There will be a call in the social networks for all menstruating people to provide self-taken, unedited photos of their period: used sanitary napkins and tampax, menstruation cups and bloody toilet paper, stained underwear, pink marks and dark lumps, blood on the bed, on clothes, on the floor, bloody legs, sex-"accidents" and fetish-experiences – all of these and many more motives shall be shown in this project.
No “beautiful” photos should be shown, because there already exist more than enough euphemistic photos and graphics of this subject. This project shall show realistic depictions of different photograhic quality, which truthfully represent the real look of all aspects of menstruation. HOW WE BLEED is a testimony of the collective self confidence of menstruating persons, it is an emancipated challenge and therefore an enlightening, documenting photo- manifest of a bleeding sisterhood.
The aim of this work is to give menstruating people a feeling of solidarity, safety and strength. This consequently leads to more acceptance of one’s own body, tolerance towards other body representations and therefore to a free, value-neutral communication within all gender spectra.
