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

 

"helloooo, Judith Butler, I know you are talking about me, but I have no idea what you're saying!" --Lynnee Breedlove, One Freak Show, paraphrased

"I am extremely greatful to Foucault's notion of 'discourse.' Without it, I could not have done this work." --Edward Said, Orientalism, paraphrased

the form of "the form"

obligatory: i am speaking for myself. i am not speaking for anyone else. i have seen first hand many, many, many people struggle with gen-durr identity and how people reacted to their so-called abnormalities. i have seen friends kill themselves, loved ones still struggle after they have had surgery, loved ones struggle over how to cope with the 'illness' of their new sister -- many who struggled and lived in times that were not as fluid as this time, in times where breaking binary codes was really, truly, much more abnormal.  it's still hard for many. i think that is why i take such a flippant attitude myself to this 'intervention.' intervention, for many people, is not very fun. it's a privilege for intervention to be fun. i want to preserve my own sanity and respect the serious trials that many people have (in this day and age, too).

however, edward said spoke for other people with amazing results. comments directly addressed to the male and female box on the form. experimental in that gen-durr is inherently experimental on one scale and performative on another, which are only two of six or so scales of gen-durr. i almost didn't put this disclaimer in, but i figured one of you inquisitive, beautiful people would wonder about it.

the form of "the form"

"i" is a box. there are boxes. they define who we are. those in power give us labels. those close to us, whether or not they have power over us, give us labels. we give labels to other people. we give labels to ourselves. "liberal," "conservative," "radical," and "moderate" are labels. labels do not give credit to our rich selves. but see how much we use them and we need them. not always in a bad way either. see how much i use them. militant "i am just me" is a label. "child of the world" is a label.

This unique space is divided into 'twos.'  The space behind the hallway is for those with the hair and the hanging (mostly) down part to go.  We tried to go into this space, but were unsure because we didn't possess this hanging-down part.  You have to pass a test to get into the space for the ones with the sticking (mostly) out parts.  There is a ritual change of dress and dousing of a substance called water.  This is done in a sacred area with bumpy walls.  These creatures put on a ritual costume to enter this substance called water in more depth.  This place is called THE POOL.