16th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Altered Images
Confined

Christianity can be a source of good aiding in human progress, promoting love and acceptance, and more, but when I look at history and some parts of current Christian institutions, I see corruption, prejudice, lack of empathy, and lack of acceptance. Symbolically, I tied my model's hands together with a rosary to represent how Christianity can prevent individuals from embracing their whole selves--especially in regards to the LGBTQ+ community--how white slave-owners used it to justify slavery in the past (some racists today also use it to justify their discriminatory views of different minority groups); how it perpetuated and, in some cases, still perpetuates sexism; and how it has been the source of numerous conflicts.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2017
Date Uploaded: 11.2018
Photo Location: Lake Orion, Michigan, United States of America
Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T5i
Copyright: © Josephine Graham