“Lakeside” – A Photo Series by Shane Rocheleau Investigating American Identity

**“Lakeside” – A Photographic Series by Shane Rocheleau Examining American Identity**

Shane Rocheleau’s “Lakeside” is a sensitive and reflective photographic series that probes the intricacies of American identity. Set against the serene, evolving backdrop of American suburbia, this series investigates themes of masculinity, collective memory, cultural heritage, and whiteness. Adopting a perspective that is both personal and analytical, Rocheleau weaves a visual tale that urges viewers to acknowledge the truths—and paradoxes—woven into the American narrative, especially within a post-industrial, postmodern country wrestling with its own mythologies.

### The Photographer Behind the Lens

Shane Rocheleau is an American photographer and educator recognized for his conceptually rich and socially conscious work. Drawing inspiration from the intersections of American history, personal recollection, and cultural storytelling, Rocheleau often utilizes photography to examine identity in its various dimensions. His body of work comprises critically lauded projects that blend ethnographic inquiry with lyrical visual expression.

“Lakeside,” released as a photobook in 2019 by Gnomic Book, advances this exploration. It has gained extensive acclaim for its subtle representation of white American masculinity in a suburban framework, reflecting the underlying currents of privilege, disillusionment, and unrest within this demographic.

### The Concept of Lakeside

Central to “Lakeside” is an investigation of white male identity in contemporary America—particularly within the suburbs of Virginia, a state rich in the historical legacy of the Confederacy and ongoing dialogues regarding race and privilege. The “Lakeside” referenced in the title points to an actual suburb in Richmond, Virginia, yet in Rocheleau’s work, it also transforms into a metaphorical space: a location hovering between nostalgia and insecurity, stagnation and change.

Rocheleau approaches the suburbs not in a conventional journalistic manner. His images are indirect, nuanced, and layered. He captures vacant interiors, overgrown yards, crumbling structures, and young men whose expressions range from reflective to aloof. These subjects—be they people or buildings—share a sense of stillness and sorrow, illustrating a cultural identity in transformation.

### Themes and Aesthetic Approach

Rocheleau’s visuals in “Lakeside” are imbued with ambiguity. The colors are muted yet deep, often bathed in the warm hues of dusk or the dim light of interiors. Each photograph feels deliberately crafted, as if it is softly narrating a story rather than proclaiming it loudly. This restrained aesthetic prompts viewers to pause and dissect the meanings that lie beneath the exhibited surfaces.

Recurring themes in “Lakeside” include:

– **Young White Men:** Frequently shirtless or lightly clothed, these men come across as vulnerable, at times resistant. They symbolize a generation grappling with a crisis of purpose—encumbered not only by cultural privilege but also by the confusion that may arise from it in a shifting world.
– **Suburban Landscapes:** Captured under flat, sometimes stifling light, the suburban surroundings act as a quiet yet impactful metaphor for the emotional landscapes of the series’ subjects.
– **Historical Allusions:** Rocheleau subtly references history through visual elements—a Confederate statue in the background, an American flag casually draped. These nods connect the present with the past, indicating that identity is molded as much by inherited myths as by current realities.

### Political and Psychological Undertones

Although “Lakeside” avoids explicit political statements, it is intrinsically political in its themes. Rocheleau explores what it signifies to be a white man in contemporary America—a question that echoes amid national discussions on race, privilege, and identity politics. Rather than vilifying or glorifying, Rocheleau presents his subjects as human—imperfect, bewildered, contemplative. This impartiality allows the work to pose questions instead of delivering answers.

It compels viewers to reflect on inquiries such as: What obligations accompany inherited advantages? How does unaddressed historical guilt affect contemporary identity? In what ways do societal expectations around masculinity shape, restrict, or harm individuals and their communities?

### Reception and Impact

“Lakeside” has been lauded by critics and audiences alike for its understated potency. The photobook challenges viewers to engage with the everyday realities of individuals who have historically represented the unmarked standard in American society. In doing so, it plays a vital role in the larger, necessary dialogue about who is visible, who narrates their own story, and which narratives prevail in the national psyche.

Additionally, the project aligns with a broader movement in contemporary photography that aims to reveal the subconscious facets of culture—where identity is less about fixed characteristics and more about the stories people inherit, enact, and interrogate.

### Conclusion

“Lakeside” transcends being merely a photographic series; it is a reflection on place, identity, and inheritance in America. Through nuanced depictions and evocative landscapes