Treble exhibition tackling sexual violence to come to Newcastle this October!
Shieldfield Art Works (SAW) Gallery: Friday 13th October – Thursday 26th October 2023
Newcastle City Library: Thursday 26th October – Thursday 9th November 2023
Long Gallery, Newcastle University: Monday 30th October – Sunday 12th November 2023
As is part of a social-action treble roll out and research project into Sexual Violence, Law and Photographic Artwork, Newcastle University Law School and Newcastle University School of Arts and Cultures are joining forces with a multi-award-winning photographer to tackle sexual violence victim-blaming in the North East.
Jayne Jackson, MA, BA (Hons) is a Commercial Photographer and PhD student at Arts University Bournemouth. She created the multi award-winning photographic art series named ‘Asking for it’ over a 3-year period. Based on multiple case studies, the images highlight victim blaming in cases of sexual violence through the clever use of historical styling and ‘mugshot’ format. Using make-up artists, actors and historical photographic techniques, Jayne created a series of 23 ‘mugshots’ each representing a different decade and each depicting a reason to victim-blame for example ‘Flirted’, ‘Wore Red’, or ‘Swiped Right’. The fascinating body of work is the result of twelve months of specialist research. ‘Asking for it’ includes intriguing images, taken using historic wet plate collodion methods, which were inspired by research at The Dorset History Centre.
Victim-blaming is the attitude which suggests that the victim rather than the perpetrator is responsible for the assault. Victim-blaming occurs when it is assumed that an individual did something to provoke the violence by actions, words, or dress. Victim blaming is a major reason that survivors of sexual and domestic violence do not report their assaults. Many survivors are already grappling with feelings of guilt and shame for what has happened. No matter what they were wearing, how much they had to drink, or whether they had a previously consensual relationship with the perpetrator, the victim should not be blamed.
Jayne Jackson said ‘My initial inspiration for ‘Asking for It’ originated from my disbelief on hearing a report on the suicide of a young woman following the acquittal of her alleged rapist. During the trial she was made to hold up her underwear three times. The fact that the victim was being blamed, shamed and humiliated for an assault that she had allegedly suffered was haunting and formed the catalyst for the project. I wanted to create images that engaged wider audiences and invited the viewer to question the aspect of blame. I am so pleased with the impact and continued reach of this project grateful to all involved. The images continue to be exhibited, publish and used in educational seminars and workshops across the world, strengthening my belief in the power of photography to make a positive difference, open important conversations and to inspire others to themselves become agents of positive change.”
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