whatever you say
March 30, 2012
Nursing Mother (Stephanie Gruenwald) (1917) by Egon Schiele
I need your help! I’m collecting words for my next project, currently titled whatever you say. Specific words: words of criticism directed towards mothers — things you have been told or overheard or said yourself (either to someone else or silently to yourself). I’m working on a performance piece to convey the effects of these words, and what you share with me will be the foundation and will direct the course of the project. Head over to the Submit page to participate.
Your involvement (whether you submit a few words or share this project with your friends) is crucial and much appreciated!
Hi Rachel
Well, before sending the phrase that I have in mind, I need to shed some light on its context (as it transpires that nothing critical or aggressive). The truth is that my mother blamed (sometimes explicitly) my birth for some problems of his professional life. I think the strategy here was to blame (Blake written somewhere “Sooner murder an infant in its cradle than nurse unacted desires”) the children, cause a unsatisfactory life is a terrible thing to burden alone. Never thought I’d respond so directly, though sometimes such an answer has crossed my mind… However, I try my best to take care of my parents, now very elderly and infirm.
“No, Mom … I did not destroy or am I destroying your life. I think you, in this case, you know the answer better than I.”
Best wishes and good luck for your project
Al Diniz