Some people travel the world in search of adventure, while others seek out natural wonders, cultural landmarks or culinary experiences. But French photographer François Prost was looking for something altogether different during his recent road trip across America: strip clubs.
Documenting American Culture
From Miami to Los Angeles, Prost’s latest book “Gentlemen’s Club” charts his route across the US via nearly 150 strip clubs with names like Pleasures, Temptations, and Cookies N’ Cream. There isn’t a single nude woman to be seen, however, as Prost’s camera was exclusively trained on the buildings themselves — and specifically their often-colorful facades.
A Journey Across the Country
Over the course of five weeks in 2019, he traversed over 6,000 miles, with the resulting photos capturing everything from the pastel hues of Florida’s Club Pink Pussycat to venues hiding in plain sight in the country’s more religious states. “I’d divide these venues into two types: One is very integrated into the public landscape, and one is a bit more hidden and dodgy,” Prost explained.
The Contrast of Cultures
Prost noted that the first type of strip club could be found in “very American” settings, such as “around amusement parks and fast food and malls.” The latter venues, however, often looked indistinguishable from any store in a strip mall. He found many such establishments along the Bible Belt, a socially conservative region in the country’s south. Prost was especially keen to explore this area due to the apparent contrast between the prevalence of strip clubs and what he describes in his book as “conservatism and extreme puritanism.”
Architectural Perspectives on Sex and Gender
Prost insisted that he had little interest in the interiors or services of the strip clubs, which he always visited during the day. Instead, he aimed to learn more about American culture by creating objective, documentary-style photographs of establishments sitting at the intersection of sex, gender, and commerce. He described the series as primarily a landscape photography project, stating, “The prism of this theme of strip club facades became a way of studying and trying to understand the country.”
A Surprising Normalization
Prost’s biggest surprise was how “normalized” strip clubs appeared in everyday life. “The relationship that Americans seem to have with strip clubs is quite different to what you see in Europe. Going to a strip club seems to be a lot more normalized … You go as a couple, or amongst friends at night to have fun,” he reflected in his book.
Unique Characteristics of American Strip Clubs
He was struck by the fact that many Las Vegas strip clubs doubled as restaurants, boasting happy hour deals and special discounts for truck drivers or construction workers. “I noticed a few strip clubs that would advertise being a strip club and steakhouse,” he said, highlighting a uniquely American blend of dining and adult entertainment.
Significance of the Facades
The facades of these establishments are often adorned with jokes and puns, such as “My sex life is like the Sahara, 2 palms, no dates.” Prost’s documentarian approach heightens the surreal comedy of these signs while also serving as a neutral lens for viewers to consider the objectification of women. His photographs explore the commodification of women who are, in reality, completely absent from his works.
Future Projects
Looking ahead, Prost plans to visit Japan to document the nation’s love hotels, which occupy a similar role as strip clubs in some parts of the US: open secrets in a conservative society. He believes the American establishments he visited convey something unique about the country — less about sexuality and more about the American dream.
Exhibition and Book Availability
“Gentlemen’s Club” will be exhibited at Agnes b. Galerie Boutique in Tokyo, Japan, between March 17 and April 15, 2023. The book, published by Fisheye Editions, is available now.
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