Documenting my experiences playing in the sport (cult) that is Ultimate Frisbee in the Southeast U.S.

This project explores how Ultimate Frisbee—a sport defined by self-officiation, inclusivity, and nonviolence—actively subverts traditional gender norms and hegemonic masculine ideals inherent in most team sports. I use the camera to examine sport as a site of ritual, intimacy, hedonism, and spirituality, especially within the unique context of the American South. As a progressive and queer space in predominantly conservative regions of the United States, Ultimate offers a refuge to many, and an alternative to hypermasculine sports culture, emphasizing inclusivity, community, and joy. The project considers how this countercultural ethos transforms Ultimate into a secular, spiritual practice, filling roles historically held by organized religion.

You won’t see anyone actually playing the sport in this series— I’m interested in what happens in the moments in between and on the sidelines.