Ecstatic Resistance ~ with Emily Roysdon, LTTR {Lesbians To The Rescue} ~
~ Fall 2006 ~ 4:30 - 7pm _ 10.03.06 / 10.10.06 / 10.17.06 ~
An investigation into the limits and uses of pleasure in organizing. We will negotiate the term 'community' and consider the making of memory (how and if it's possible in an ecstatic state). We will read texts and look at art works that address our questions over a series of encounters (multiple meetings crucial to our questions regarding group dynamic).
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We came to Emily's class having read "Revolutionary Warfare: How to Know When The Rebels Have Won" by Eqbad Ahmad (1965) and also having prepared a response to this reading in whatever form we felt like—improvisational dance, songs, puppet shows, whatever. Michael remarked that he couldn't believe how little we seem to have learned as a society and so asked Qusai to again teach Pablo how to do a handstand. (All of us, including Emily, would be doing handstands by the end of the day.) Alia asked us if we tend to value art more if it is "political" art. Katie felt that one of the best ways we can resist is through storytelling and so if we could all share one thing about our family history. We learned that Emily's grandmother had started the very first all-women's AA meeting in Baltimore and that Katie's grandfather is famous for the puzzles he makes.
The assignment for the second class had been to write a list of words that we liked, words we were naturally attracted to and then once in class, Emily asked us to write artist statements from these words so that a list like
surrender, Bark, Meow, Chirp, Triangle, fecundity, candy cheese, melody.
might create an artist statement like:
Meow your way to open communication. This is a place where the triangle barks out a melody. By surrendering cheese and candy, fecundity can begin with a chirp! (by Sarah)
Or a list like:
art bike computer emulation freeway internet loop reality shift still universal.
makes an artist statement like:
Bikes are universal, even if we don't use them on freeway.
Internet is an emulation of reality that we interact with through computers.
Art shifts on huge loops that are definitely not still. (by Pablo)
Michael said that it was in this activity that he realized Emily's genuine power.