Though the Christmas and New Year holidays are almost definitely clouding most people’s ability to think beyond the next week or so, I’m sure you guys remember that October 2010 was breast cancer awareness month. We raised awareness here on Zelda Lily and, here in the UK, fundraising events took place and pink ribbons were abundantly in evidence. But, over in New York City, black-and-white posters advertising the SCAR Project were presenting an altogether more honest and authentic picture of breast cancer. The posters featured a pregnant woman with a large surgical scar over the right half of her chest – the place where her right breast would once have been. The copy underneath the image read ‘Breast Cancer is Not a Pink Ribbon.’ The poster, even as I …
… research the SCAR project now, two months after breast cancer awareness month ended, is powerful stuff.
SCAR stands for ‘Surviving Cancer, Absolute Reality,’ and the SCAR Project is a series of large-scale black-and-white portraits of young breast cancer survivors, shot by fashion photographer David Jay. According to the project’s website:
‘The SCAR Project puts a raw, unflinching face on early onset breast cancer while paying tribute to the courage and spirit of so many brave young women.’
The website also notes that the images that form the SCAR Project are dedicated to the more than 10,000 women under the age of 40 who will be diagnosed this year alone, and that the project was developed as a tribute to a friend of Jay’s, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 32 and inspired him to photograph her and other survivors.
In each of the photographic portraits, which are all of women between the ages of 18 and 35 and of which there are now almost 100, the subject is topless. The portraits are sad, and shocking – not because of the way that breasts are sexualised in society, but because the images touch upon how much (I think) we as a society tend to hide and/or ‘tidy up’ disease – we just don’t tend to think about or realise that women are walking around with scars like these under their shirts. The cute pink ribbons that have come to symbolise the fight against breast cancer don’t show you this – they’re sterile, inoffensive, not difficult to look at.
The aim of the SCAR Project is tri-fold – to raise public consciousness of early-onset breast cancer, to raise funds for breast cancer research and awareness, and to help survivors to see their experiences and scars through an ‘honest… and ultimately empowering lens.’ Jay has spoken about the impact of the SCAR Project on an individual level, saying that:
‘For these young women, having their portrait taken seems to represent their personal victory over this terrifying disease. It helps them reclaim their femininity, their sexuality, identity and power after having been robbed of such an important part of it. Through these simple pictures, they seem to gain some acceptance of what has happened to them and the strength to move forward with pride.’
For all the portraits of the SCAR Project are shocking and sad, they are also incredibly beautiful and powerful – and their raising awareness can only be a good thing. The images challenge traditional perceptions of breast cancer and each of them provides a raw portrait of a strong and beautiful young woman and her individual character. Though the portraits and women captured in them are different, they are each tied by the one thing that unites them all – the experience of breast cancer. And that, I think, makes quite an impact.
4chan down due to DDoS. LULZ
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Troll chick site on most sensitive topic.
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Did no one ever tell you that trolls (male or female) get breast cancer too?
Go feel your boobs/moobs.
mwahs bebe.
Did you notice the fucked up nails on the chick with fun bag cancer?
I have to assume that you mean the picture accompanying this posting.
Yes, her nails are strange looking (I had to zoom in on them to see this), but it looks as if she is doing a self screening exam as opposed to actually having cancer.
Now.
Go check yourself out. No need to report back about the details unless you need emotional support.
Gimme some support
Details first.
Thank you, Amy.
This was quite an eyeopener. I have a couple of friends who have had breast cancer, and they had lumpectomies. I assumed (because I have never seen the scars) that the bad old days of total mastectomies were the worst. I have to re-think this.
I, along with a lot of people have just assumed that the lumpectomies left no real disfigurement.
Excellent campaign.
I feel I need to comment on the awful ad campaign of Jack Black on the website. I have been a longtime reader of the website and hardly get offended but to log on today and see him making a horrible face across a womans breast in a piece about breast cancer. Please is the ad money worth putting your readers through this. I won’t be back til you pull the ad. Truly some taste please.
Someone has to pay the bills, sweety.
While the juxtaposition is unfortunate, I do believe this particular ad service is automated.
In short, you’re getting offended by a computer program.
Take a deep breath.
Relax.
Yes, you’re right B, it is automated.
One time, over on Evil Beet Gossip, there was an ad placed that made it look like Lady Gaga was wearing a mailbox on her head … and was about to be mowed down by an SUV. Naturally, it wasn’t intentional, and the placement of the ad in position with the photo of Gaga was sheerly a coincidence, but pretty funny nonetheless!
http://sashaisamonster.com/2010/06/a-terrible-fate-has-befallen-lady-gaga/evilbeet/
Sooooooo, Sarah. How you during?
Doing well, doing well – how about you? :) Fun to see you on this side of the pond! How were your holidays?
Oh me, I’m doing very well. It’s fun to be here will all the girls. Since you left beet, it’s all cancer (Molls). I can’t believe that the Sasha let’s tumor thumbs phone it in.
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Anyway, looking forward to a 2011 of learning more about important women’s issues and providing support for all my ZL girls.
LOL
I haven’t left Beet, though!
Yes!
I like Molls!
Didn’t she used to do video posts for ZL?
Molls is stage 9000 blog cancer.
See now, I wouldn’t even blink an eye at that one!
I’d just assume it was another of her silly get ups.
LOVE IT!
I’m glad there’s a campaign out there that isn’t all sexy titties and magic boobies and stuff. I’m having trouble getting it to load on my stupid computer, but I would really like to see it.