Art & Design: 14Powerful Portraits Of Men Reacting To New Conscription Act

T0M

14 Powerful Portraits Of Men Reacting To New Mandatory Army Draft In Lithuania

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Two women in Lithuania are using photography to approach a very controversial topic – military conscription, which was suddenly reinstated by the Lithuanian government just a few months ago. The series is a collaboration between Lithuanian actress and TV host Beata Tiskevic-Hasanova and Lithuanian photographer and political science student Neringa Rekasiute.

On May 11th, more than 37,000 men, aged 19-26, woke up and found their surnames on Lithuania’s compulsory military service list. 3,000 were needed for the first wave of recruits, but 2/3 of this first group were filled by volunteers. Some of these men took to social media to express their thoughts about what many called a sudden and random ‘lottery.’ The most disturbing thing was the very harsh and unforgiving public opinion of men who didn’t want to go to the army. They were called “unmanly,” “cowardly,” “disgraceful,” etc. This negativity caught Beata’s and Neringa’s attention and they decided to respond creatively.

They gathered 14 random men, aged 17-28, and took their portraits. The men are portrayed crying in military uniforms. Beata and Neringa thought it was a good way to show how dangerous gender expectations are: a man is expected to be rational, emotionless and aggressive. It is very important that we, as a society, teach men to express their emotions and not force a stereotypical archaic role onto them. The pictures are accompanied by the models’ quotes. They are expressing their opinions about what it is to be manly and how it relates to going to the army.

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Redstreak

I still can't believe in 2015 that conscriptions are still a thing. No government should ever force a citizen to participate in the military against their wishes.

inspiration4

Israel teas

Goosey

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Originally posted by Redstreak

I still can't believe in 2015 that conscriptions are still a thing. No government should ever force a citizen to participate in the military against their wishes.

Um, Lithuania. And a lot of countries do this.

Imma be honest, those photos really irritate me. Those tears seem fake. They're in the army for a mere 9 months same as every one else. The country isn't even at war.

Skywalker

This is so sad.

T0M

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Originally posted by Redstreak

I still can't believe in 2015 that conscriptions are still a thing. No government should ever force a citizen to participate in the military against their wishes.

Unfortunately it still exists.

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Originally posted by inspiration4

Israel teas

It does not improve my feeling knowing I will be in that situation in a few months

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Originally posted by Goosey

Um, Lithuania. And a lot of countries do this.

Imma be honest, those photos really irritate me. Those tears seem fake. They're in the army for a mere 9 months same as every one else. The country isn't even at war.

Exactly. I don't understand why they are even doing it.

Chucko

Why are they crying are they afraid to defend their country against Russia?

Is this what we should expect from our NATO allies a bunch of cry babies?

Big Smoke

dafuq?
Lithuania isnt even at war, and it usually lasts from 9 months to 2 years. What are they crying for

Conscription has it's benefits IMO. A sense of discipline is exactly what youths need

Goosey

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Originally posted by T0M

Exactly. I don't understand why they are even doing it.

Look what happened to the Ukraine. These men in the photos above are models, by the way. It even says: "taking photos of some of the men who were, or could have been, included into the list of possible conscripts"

RomanNavy

Not Lithuania girl you won't have to do **** nobody cares about Lithuania and its land

And those pictures I am screaming.
I'd be embarrassed af for my family and friends to be put on the internet crying like a little bitch.

Goosey

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Originally posted by RomanNavy

I'd be embarrassed af for my family and friends to be put on the internet crying like a little bitch.

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Tim£

Messs @ people not acting like they wouldn't be ******** themselves if they got conscripted

Last Boy on Earth

They all look gay, no wonder they're crying like the sissies they are

Big Smoke

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Originally posted by Tim£

Messs @ people not acting like they wouldn't be ******** themselves if they got conscripted

I wouldnt.
It's not like I'm going to war

GreasyBruce

Hope they repeal the law, conscription should be illegal worldwide. It's disgusting. Personally I would gladly reject/abandon my nationality (I have multiple) if they tried that. Or I'd pay to get out. Or anything.

Obsession

Y'all do know that in the US, every male is compelled to sign up for Selective Service in order to obtain benefits...once the government feels that war is imminent, they can then do something pretty similar to men in America.

Chucko

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Originally posted by Obsession

Y'all do know that in the US, every male is compelled to sign up for Selective Service in order to obtain benefits...once the government feels that war is imminent, they can then do something pretty similar to men in America.

It's called the Draft we have had plenty of GreasyBruce's dodge it by running to Canada/Mexico during the Vietnam War. Selective Service is indeed a requirement for all males 18 through 25 and failure to signup is a violation of Federal Law and you can get up to 5 years in prison. You won't get a drivers licence issued practically anywhere and you can forget about any kind of student loans.

Draft dodgers are not heroes, but cowards.