Cock lovers rejoice! Our guest heretic for this show is Tamara Staples, a photographer that combines her love of art and cock into picture books. On this show we learn what got her so interested in cocks, what her favourite cock of all time is, how to tame a cock for photos, and how cock photography came together for her.
Catch the second half of this interview where she delves more into her cock books, share with us what’s in her future, and how to respect food that comes from animal sources.
Tamara Staples’ work has appeared in such publications as Harper’s Magazine, The New York Times , New York Magazine, Townand Country, National Geographic and was featured on NPR’s This American Life and CNN. She’s a fellow of the Rauschenberg Residency (2015) and a two-time recipient of the New York Foundation for the Arts Grant.
Her in-depth investigation of Pure-Bred Poultry led to the publication of The Fairest Fowl: Portraits of Championship Chickens (2001) and The Magnificent Chicken: Portraits of the Fairest Fowl (2013). Tamara’s recent project, Side Effects May Include, addresses the disconnect between mental health issues and the effects of poly-pharmacy. Side Effects May Include has been shown at the Institute of Contemporary Art San Jose, FAVA Gallery, Oberlin, Ohio and will show this year at Davis Orton Gallery in Hudson, NY and Blue Sky Gallery in Portland, Oregon.
Highlights from today’s cock photography episode:
01:54 ~ What got Tamara so interested in cocks?
05:37 ~ The fascination with American poultry shows.
06:23 ~ What qualities are chickens being bred for?
11:10 ~ Chickens with personality.
14:49 ~ Some of the most beautiful cocks around.
20:47 ~ How do chickens and art intertwine? Aka: I’ve eaten your people.
24:42 ~ How 50 Ways to Eat Cock was born.
29:44 ~ How to tame a cock for photographic purposes.
33:50 ~ How amorous chickens behave.
Other links mentioned by Tamara Staples:
- The Giant Chicken Video
- Fairest Fowl: Portraits of Championship Chickens
- The Magnificent Chicken: Portraits of the Fairest Fowl
You may also enjoy Raising chickens in the City.
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Hormones are not used in commercial chickens for meat production. Antibiotics are not used either. The rapid growth and meat comes from breeding, primarily from Cornish to Plymouth Rocks, through carefully selected lines.
If viewers want a feel for chicken show culture, have them seek out the documentary “Chicken People” that originally aired on CMT.
The chicken that is “Big Bird” that the host refers to is a Brahma. They are known to be very large, especially since they stand more upright.
Otherwise, I enjoyed this episode a lot. I own 50 Ways To Eat Cock and have tried a few recipes. My son and I both show chickens and raise them for food and eggs as well.