Broke & Back Over the Mountain

Broke and back over the mountain delves into the dissonance and discord that arise from inhabiting a space where one feels out of place, a stranger amidst the familiar. Through the lens of cowboy imagery and the exploration of toxic masculinity, I confront the complexities of navigating a city that does not embrace or accommodate my identity.

The cowboy motif serves as a metaphor for the cultural landscape of the Canadian city, Calgary— where conformity to traditional gender norms and expectations still are felt. In these photo montages, I examine the inherent contradictions of this environment, juxtaposing the romanticized ideal of the cowboy with the harsh realities of toxic masculinity.

Through visual storytelling and symbolism, I aim to capture the tension between the rugged individualism of cowboy culture and the suffocating pressure to conform to narrow definitions of masculinity. The cowboy, traditionally revered as a symbol of freedom and resilience, becomes a reflection of the rigid social structures that govern urban life—a reminder of the limitations imposed upon those who dare to stray from the norm.