Dominic Manderson

Dominic is currently based in Glasgow, finishing his final year studying Communication Design, specialising in photography at Glasgow School of Art.His interests are a combination of portraiture as well as documentary photography, in particular questioning masculinity within the modern age.

His project ‘OUTVIE’ explores the annual game of Royal Shrovetide Football based in Ashbourne, Derbyshire. A brutal yet, significant event for locals where over two days, the town is divided by the river into two teams, with goals spanning a stretch of three miles. With its limited rules, hundreds of men sprawl in huddles across the Derbyshire town, brawling for a touch of the ball. To score is a momentous achievement within the community due to the game’s illustrious legacy. Therefore, it is the responsibility of future generations to act as custodians for the game. Though respecting the unification and inclusivity Shrovetide brings – alongside its aggressive nature, my works questions the line between tradition and patriarchal dominance and considers the idea of whether this allowance of men to temporary fulfil their desired image of masculinity is positive in the long run. With younger generations in particular, in the context of a society that now questions norms specific to gender more than ever, will they emulate the traditions of the past to keep this game alive?