Fashioning the Body: Versions of the Citizen, the Self, and the Subject

I have interests in creative writing.  Specifically in poetry, children's literature, fiction, and playwriting.  Another interest I have is performance, and I'm thinking about combining it with the creative writing portion.

I'm looking for collaborators that are flexible and responsible.  I'm not worried when someone is five to ten minutes late, but I expect people to always be on time. I would like to work with people that are responsible when it comes to communication.  For example:  letting members of the group know if you can/can't make meetings and/or other obligations.  I also appreciate it when members of my group are focused and are working with a purpose.  Not just meeting to socialize and procrastinate, but to get work done.  

Woo hoo!  Let's get creative and crazy!

(responsibly though:) 

The Infamous Dinosaur Pin

The special Dino pin was born in a rundown, dangerous, neighborhood thrift store, in Kansas City, MO.  It lived in a glass case amongst other pins for the beginning of its life.  Its owner found it by chance on an outing with her sister-in-law.  The owner picked the Dino up and paid in full for its presence.  

Surviving the Dino, is Liz, her close friends who've seen and touched it, Liz's sister-in-law who witnessed its birth, and all the sweaters it clinged so tightly to. 

Throughout its life, it witnessed many events and situations.  It experienced fun and laughter as well as sadness and sorrow.  It experienced  weddings, funerals, friendships, a job, and love.  Its life wasn't a boring one.  It was simple, but exciting at the same time.  Every time the Dino went out, it was complimented on its appearance.  It brought an aesthetically pleasing comfort to those who pondered at it.  It made people feel good, just by its appearance. 

It always held on tight, even in the toughest situations.  The last journeys of the pins life were exciting and adventurous.  It lived each day to the fullest. The dino died by falling into the street.  He was alone, and no one is sure if he was found. 

"A frequent usage hoever, of the lip salve, as it is ingenioiusly called, but which is merely a red pigment in disguise, so inflames, thickens roughens, and gives a peculiar tint to the mouth, that is has the look of the shrivelled, purplish one of a sick negress." (p.51)

As everyone wandered through the doors, they put on their fronts.  Some even had masks or facades.  Others had veilling scarves, as they were being surveilled down the line.  Down the line, and over the bow's line.

A box is in the center.  and you are in it.  You have been placed in it, and now it smells like you.  In turn and regards you smell like it. 

Your bow is colorless.  it is bent. almost about to break.  But your cares about this once lively bow are far gone.  far far out the window. nor more wind to caution. debris now has escaped from your path.

"The habit of biting the lips soon destroys any grace of form they may have originally posessed.  Madame de Pompadour while lamenting the decay of her charms, confessed that she first began to spoil at the mouth."(p.51)

EXCUSE ME!

Your'e rotten sir.  mon·sieur, you are rotten! Par le vu France, Sir? Mixin me up in this world is what you're doing.  I've driven with you everywhere and I lost the map.  Now, I follow your Atlas suggestions.  But, unfortunately, I've been told that it's rotten.

NOW-PRESENTLY-CONCURRENTLY

I see how you ended up with this.  And c'mon, we both know you really didn't have to explain it.  They are straight.  They are straighter than any bow in this sphere.  And you know it.  And you made it happen.  Although, no biting was involved-the history suggests-stretching, straining, proglems, life.

Story of a Dull Night With Friends 

Setting: Purple Rain, Capitol Way, Liz's room

Time: Mid-Evening

Characters: Natalie, Amanda, Liz

Amanda: I feel like watching some t.v.

Natalie: Yeah, me too. Maybe the Hills is on.

Liz: Yes! Sweet...there is a new episode.

(turn on T.V., start to situate bodies on bed)

A: Not in the middle!

N: I'm always in the middle.

L: That's because your size is elven like and it works well between us two giants....deal little lady.

A: The show isn't on, but Dog the Bounty is.

N: Gotta love Dog.

L: I'm not into it.  Wait...murder myster, Court T.V. Lets see what it's about.

A: No, these are kinda boring to me.

N: I like em'.

L: Ok then, how about Top Chef?

N & A: Ok-sure

(phone rings)

L: Amanda, your phone.

A: Will you hand it to me?

(phone to Amanda)

Amanda on phone,( her tone is nonchalant and relaxed):

Heeey.....what's going on? Just chillan' at Purple Rain.  Sweet.  Um...watching T.V. trying to figure out plans for the night.  A party?  Where? Hm.....sounds sketchy.  Well, let me talk it over with my girls and I'll call ya back.  Bye Bye

L: Who was it?

A: Tyle

N: What'd he want?

A: He wanted to see what we were up to.  He said there is a party downtown and it has a theme.

N: What's the theme?

The form of the form:

what does this mean. does it have a double edge to it?  like identity and the materials we invest through our bodies.

do you like to form? yes no

if yes how much

if you answered no, do you like to conform?

would you call yourself informal or formal?

do you like to confirm? yes no

are you silly? yes no

if yes, how often? how much?

lastly, do you laugh? yes no

if yes, when and where do you do it?

Liz

Fashioning the Body

10/4/07

Knowledge

Before I started my analysis on the term, “knowledge”, I decided to think about what my thoughts about this term were. Specifically, what my definition of the term was, before reading Foucault. I asked myself to define knowledge.

If you asked me to define this term a week ago, I probably would have said that knowledge is something smart people have. It is full of facts, history, and education. This is just one perspective out of millions. It is hard to say what others think about knowledge, but for purposes of this paper I’m just going to pretend/assume that people have a similar perspective about this term and its meaning.

I always thought that you got “knowledge” from factual texts, from studying for hours and being tested. Sure, you retain information when you do activities like this, but are you gaining knowledge? Are these experiences giving you knowledge? And what other, if any, experiences besides educational, make one knowledgeable or have knowledge?

I want to point out the phrase, “gaining knowledge.” It is interesting to me, because the word “gain” isn’t usually associated with something positive. Foucault deploys the term knowledge to me, as something you can’t gain. You can’t immediately gain knowledge, you have to go on a journey to obtain knowledge.

In the History of Sexuality, Foucault presses the issue of the knowledge of sex. I thought about my own experience with sex/sexuality, and I asked myself: how did I retain my knowledge about sex? The answer I came up with was this; through experience and expression. I learned the facts about sex from educators in elementary school, but that is not how I became knowledgeable about sex or my sexuality. I think one could argue with me here, saying no, actually you learned facts and obtained knowledge on this subject from your educators. But, I think Foucault would be on my side, saying how ordinary of you.

My group ventured to the bus stop located next to Red Square.  The bus is identified by a sign that is attatched to a light pole.  It has writing and symbols on it.  The buses enter a circular driveway, or "loop".  A cement curb surrounds the drive with a patch of bricks that run along the curb. 

The sound of the buses engine is heard as it sits and waits for passengers to board.  On the front of the bus there is a digital scroll, it tells you where you're going, and identifies the bus that is taking you to your destination.  The bus's lights are on as it sits and waits.

People enter the bus shifting through their belongings to find their ID/money.  They step on and up the steps to greet the driver.  I observed in the actual "bus stop".  There were two actually.  They are like glass cases for people.  They have three walls of glass, and metal frames that create an open box with a bench for passengers to wait.  One person entered to wait for the bus, and looked at the bus schedule this person left to go talk to the driver about where she will end up. 

Every few minutes, a voice from a speaker tells you what bus you're taking and where you're going.  Next to the bus stops there is a phone booth, with a phone book, and next to the booth is an emergency phone.  The wind is herad through the trees, and a puff of air noice is heard as the bus exits slowly.  People pass by, sometimes stopping to look at bus times.

Along with these observations, I drew diagrams of the loop, and the signs and symbols I saw there.