Pratt, Charles

My documentary focuses on the aspects of therapeutic
riding: which engages the rider both physically and
mentally. Physically the rider is able to build core body
strength and the movement of the horse mimics the
human gate. Mentally the riders attention has to be
engaged multi-dimensionally focusing both on the instructions
they are given and on the connection with
the horse. The shift in the riders’ personality is interesting
to watch and in many cases they open up and
enjoy the experience. The therapies shifts the greater
conversation away from disabilities and being unable
to participate in activities to being an individual who
has impairment who can still be an active participant.
Those with a physical impairment experience independent
movement, those who are non-verbal and
autistic individuals tune their communication skills.

Although LBGTQ people currently experience unprecedented
visibility in American media and popular
culture, those representations depict flattened images
that reduce complex individuals into simplified and
limited categories of identity. I created this documentary
to blur and shatter the boundaries currently restraining
the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, and
queer communities through the production of theoretically
informed photographic images. These pictures
form a response to pop culture tropes and misinterpretations
of the LGBTQ community. In totality, I
intend to pluralize and complicate notions of identity
and bodies.