You and me, baby, ain't nothin' but mammals.

Nudity.

So, now that that's out in the open, I suppose we can begin.  What did most of you think when I said that?  I hate to speak for everyone, but I'm assuming that most of you thought of naked people.  To go a little bit further, I'm going to assume that some of you were thinking of sexualized images.

Why do we think this way?  Why is nudity always associated with sexuality?  On one hand, the answer is obvious - most of the time people are clothed, and the naked body holds a certain mystique.  Then again, this is not always the case.  Children are often naked.  Tribal nudity is usually not sexualized.  And most people would not dream of sexualizing Michelangelo's David or the Venus of Willendorf.

I think our society is too sexualized.  Maybe that's just because my sister made me watch an episode of Jersey Shore yesterday, but I think it's more than  that.  Sex has become a focal point in our society, especially with young people.  No wonder nudity is so inextricably linked with sexuality in our minds.

Anyway.  This prompt was inspired by the article I wrote about the Dave St-Pierre show which I blogged about a while ago.  Score one for me.

All my love,

Girl With One Eye.

I don't want to hear you kick me out, kick me out.

When I was in Grade 9, I was a little intimidated, to say the least.  I mean, it's a new school with kids and teachers I didn't know, many of whom were much bigger than me - totally understandable, right?

But I soon found that my school was full of really spirited, enthusiastic people, and I had every opportunity to get involved in a lot of great activities.  One of these was Activity Day - a day where students could participate in a range of school-facilitated activities, including laser tag, mini golf, and ziplining.  It sounded like a lot of fun - and it was.

But the next year, in Grade 10, it was decided that Activity Day would be available only for Grade 9s.  That was acceptable, my fellow classmates and I thought.  After all, we had been able to participate in Grade 9.

The next year, in Grade 11, they decided that Activity Day would be for the students in Grades 9 and 10.  We were a little disappointed, but it was something that we could get over.

This year, in Grade 12, Activity Day is for every grade but ours.

Needless to say, my peers and I are rather annoyed.  We pay student activity fees just like the rest of the school.  Why are we not allowed to participate in the same events?

The only reasons I've received so far are that a) Grade 12s have other exclusive activities such as grad trips and Prom, and b) Grade 12s often skip.

The reason Grade 12s have grad trips and Prom are that our senior year is a rite of passage, and we have earned these events through three years of dedicated servitude.  The fact that we have these events does not revoke our right to other student activities.  We still go to dances, pep rallies, etc.  Why not this?

As to the issue of Grade 12s skipping, this may have some basis in fact.  But the consequences of the disinterest of some students should not be suffered by their peers.  Besides, it's not just Grade 12s who skip - to be honest, I skipped Activity Day in the ninth grade.

To conclude, if two or more grades are involved in a school-wide activity, every grade should have the chance to participate. To do otherwise is ridiculous and unfair.

Sincerely,

The Girl With One Eye

Anticipation has a habit to set you up for disappointment in evening entertainment, but tonight there'll be some love.

Mildly alarmed?  Questioning what you're seeing?  Maybe a little afraid for my sanity?  Let me clear things up.  What you see here is, yes, a collection of naked bodies lying on a blood-covered floor - but it's also more than that.  It is, in fact, a collection of naked DANCER's bodies lying on a blood-covered floor.

I know.  What a huge difference, right?  But this is honestly a dance show.  It's a shot from Dave St-Pierre's production, La pornographie des ames - translated by the NAC as Bare Naked Souls, but literally meaning Soul Pornography.  Intrigued yet?

You should be.  Because if you weren't tipped off by the lack of clothing or the stage covered in blood, St-Pierre's artistic creation has proved to be extremely controversial.  Covering a range of topics from rape to suicide to fat jokes, this production sounds like it's trying its hardest to push the boundaries - and apparently, it's succeeding.

Dave St-Pierre, a Montreal native, has cystic fibrosis - a disease whose sufferers' average life expectancy is 37 years old. Currently, St-Pierre is 33, and pursues his dreams of exposing the grittiest, as well as the most beautiful, side of humanity with passion and perseverence.  The dancers, as well - a group of fourteen, both professional and amateur - must also be applauded for their commitment to their art.  It isn't easy to be completely vulnerable on stage, especially with something this "weird".  It takes people of true character to share their art despite what anyone thinks.

The soundtrack isn't bad, either - this mix of dance, theatre, text and video is set to music by Bjork, Coldplay, and Maria Callas, just to name a few.

Personally, I'm going to go see the show.  If you live in the Ottawa area, it's showing at the NAC from January 27-29 at 8:00 pm.  Tickets are about $30 for adults, and about half that for students.

So go see it, if you can!  I'll be reporting my reaction in February, after I see the show.

Sincerely,

The Girl With One Eye

Well, how the heck did you think you could beat them at the same time that you're trying to be them?

A Dozen Writing Tips

Yes, really.  Writing tips.  This is legitimately the topic today.

To be honest, I haven't read "writing tips" since I was about eleven years old, so perhaps this was a beneficial experience for me.  On the other hand, it took me about two full days to actually read it through, as my brain was constantly telling me that I had better things to do.

But let's ignore that for now, as my inability to finish the article in a timely manner may be entirely due to the ease with which I am distracted.  Though I agreed with the basic principles of what Jonathan Dube said - like being comprehensive, entertaining, and taking risks - I also think that strict rules pertaining to writing stifle a writer's voice, which is so contrary to everything I want in life that I tend to reject such rules immediately.

In conclusion, fight the power.  Resist the man.  And most of all, never, ever compromise your own unique voice, because nobody else can say things like you can.

More or less yours,

The Girl With One Eye.

I told him everything was political, and he asked me what that meant.

Well, I'll tell you what it meant.  It meant that everything about our lives, every event and action, has political implications.  Whether it's in your school, your family, or internationally, your actions have consequences.

Politics is defined as "the art or science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs."  Or at least, it is according to answers.com.  More accurately, and with more comprehensible language, politics is the way we as people decide to organize ourselves - or, in some cases, control each other.  Whatever floats your boat, right?

Wrong.  Because sometimes, through a difference of ideologies, culture, or economy, people use their politics to belittle, opress, et al, their fellow man.  Only through the efforts of free people who are able to fight inequality are people saved from opression.  It is the responsibility of the citizen to be aware of the world around them, and passionate about their love for the world.

Enter, me.  The Girl With One Eye - an eye for politics, that is!  See what I did there?  That was a pun!  Leaving aside my undeniable hilarity, let me tell you a bit about myself.  I'm a student who's passionate about politics, love, dance, music and a host of other things, and I want this blog to spark discussion.  If you have something to say, please don't hesitate to comment, or email, or whatever it is you do.  Without discussion, there's no point in expressing opinion.  I don't want to be talking to myself - I do enough of that on my own time.

This is just my intro letter - your little window into me, as it were.  My political opinions on a variety of subjects will be coming your way momentarily.  So until I experience something that sparks my interest, I will leave you.  Enjoy your life in the meantime,

The Girl With One Eye