Apr 25 2008
dominant storylines or truth?
Not really a dichotomy or a catchy title.
Hoorah for Aliza Shvarts is probably more appropriate. Aliza has created a work of art as a physical object constructed from her body and a discourse where the ‘truth’ of the discourse impacts whether the physical art will be displayed or not. The Dean of Yale University says:
[W]e will not permit her to install the project unless she submits a clear and unambiguous written statement that her installation is a work of fiction: that she did not try to inseminate herself and induce miscarriages, and that no human blood will be physically displayed in her installation.
It’s like that other ultimatum directed at women in medieval times: confess to being a witch and we might not kill you, don’t confess and we’ll burn you alive.
Rephrased as
Deny that you have rights over your body (to choose insemination, to choose miscarriage) and we’ll let people see the outcomes, admit to having rights over your body and we’ll make sure no-one can see the outcomes.
Outstanding artwork Alizia. Whether her story about the construction process is a hoax or not is less important than the clear themes embedded in the reactions to her construction process.
dominant storylines or truth?
And brava, Wendy. Your take on this is dead-on AND succinct. Unlike mine.