BOY explores the pervasive influence of the male gaze, particularly as experienced during my adolescence. Drawing inspiration from Angela McRobbie’s concept of the phallic girl, I delve into the world of traditional male desire, adopting its language and the aesthetics of men’s magazines. Rather than rejecting the male gaze, I engage with its complexities by positioning myself as both subject and object in my images. This deliberate interplay invites the viewer to look, strategically subverting traditional power dynamics.

Quotes from featured celebrities are taken from men’s magazines (such as Stuff and Maxim) and designed into numerous spreads. These are numbered and paired with an index at the end of the publication - contextualising the narrative and responding to the hidden relationship between the male gaze and female empowerment.