Me and My Penis was a British television first tonight as it aired the first-ever erect penises on our screens.
Presented as a series of vignettes bringing together various men of different sexualities, the documentary brought them together to discuss their relationship with subjects such as masturbation, sex and body image.
And for the viewers watching at home, it was a surreal experience that actually spoke a lot about the pressures and fears around masculinity.
We followed the artist Ajamu, who organised a series of portraits exploring the power of the penis and its attachment to forms of masculinity and power.
With people watching along, many seemed surprised as to the in-depth conversations that the programme was based around.
‘Channel 4 [has] produced a serious open conversation to remove many stigmas, stereotypes and taboos and to tackle body dysmorphia many men face with their penises and to tackle toxic masculinity in society,’ one viewer wrote, before quipping that most social medias users reaction to this was to treat it as a joke.
‘First thought was to be taken aback [by the programme],’ another admitted, ‘but I don’t think I’ve ever seen men talking about disliking their bodies in the same way you see women.
‘Good to raise awareness of issues some men are facing.’
Another added: ‘Such an important message. Break the taboo.’
Artist and photographer Ajamu, who heads up the doc, told Metro.co.uk: ‘Lots of countries actually celebrate the penis in terms of its fertility, its aliveness and energy.
‘But in this country the dick is still seen as pornographic and my work is there to reclaim the dick from that space.
‘I want the images in the film to normalise the penis; especially the erection. By keeping it taboo we give it too much power and don’t allow men to be vulnerable.’
Channel 4 announced the doc last December, saying on its official website: ‘Channel 4 is to take a provocative look at twenty-first century masculinity in all its forms.’
Me and My Penis aired on Channel 4.
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