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.
A Journey Through Strip Clubs
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. Over the course of five weeks in 2019, he traversed over 6,000 miles, 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.
Strip Clubs and American Culture
The first type of strip club, he added, 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. Prost was particularly interested in exploring the Bible Belt, a socially conservative region, due to the contrast between the prevalence of strip clubs and what he describes as “conservatism and extreme puritanism.” Prost insisted that he had little interest in the interiors or services of the strip clubs, which he always visited during the day. His goal was to learn more about American culture through objective, documentary-style photographs of establishments that sit at the intersection of sex, gender, and commerce. “The prism of this theme of strip club facades became a way of studying and trying to understand the country,” he noted.
The Inspiration Behind the Project
The genesis of Prost’s project dates back to his 2018 series, “After Party,” which focused on the flamboyant facades of French nightclubs. The commentary he received about the buildings’ exteriors sparked the idea to visit the US and extend the project. As he meticulously planned his trip, he was struck not only by the sheer volume of strip clubs in America but also that they often demanded to be seen. Prost observed that hot pink walls, gigantic nude silhouettes, and candy-cane-striped storefronts made no secret of the kind of entertainment provided inside.
Normalization of Strip Clubs
Prost noted that many Las Vegas strip clubs doubled as restaurants, often featuring happy hour deals and discounts for truck drivers or construction workers. “I noticed a few strip clubs that would advertise being a strip club and steakhouse, so you could eat a big piece of meat while watching strippers. That is also something that seems very American to me,” he said. The facades are littered with jokes like “My sex life is like the Sahara, 2 palms, no dates” and pun-based names like Booby Trap and Bottoms Up. Prost’s documentarian approach heightens the surreal comedy of these signs, serving as a neutral lens through which viewers can form their own opinions about the objectification of women.
Future Endeavors
Prost plans to visit Japan next 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. However, he believes the American establishments he visited reflect something unique about the country — something that is less about sexuality and more about the American dream. “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.
