Exhibition, The Process, and Powerful Women

Are the three seemingly unconnected ideas rushing around my head lately. Every activity seems to lead me back to one of these thoughts, somehow.

It started last week in AP Lit. We had read "A Rose for Emily" the night before, and were discussing the tone and mood of the story the following morning. And I realized, as people were talking, exactly what kind of creepy vibe I had picked up from the story. There was this kind of side show element to it. Only a few people nodded their heads--Mr. Kreft got it, but I don't know about the other kids. That's what I picked on. This traveling, dark, creepy exhibition--"see the home of creepy old emily rose, who slept with her murdered husband's rotting corpse for years before she finally died." Like her entire house should be between the bearded lady and the amazing batboy.

It continued in theater. When Jess asked us what kind of ideas and theme-y things we had been thinking about lately, I said that I've been thinking about processes. The process of applying to college, the process of putting on a show, putting on a show about a process. As I think more about my character (who finally has a name--Elsa! Thank you, miss Voytas XP), I realize that she too will be going through a process--the process of losing her mind, and, in her fantasyland, the process of turning into a plant. It wound up bringing me back to lit--the process of telling a story, whether in drama or writing, is really fascinating. The differences between the two are equally awesome. And of course, the whole exhibition thing in the theater realm is pretty obvious.

Last year at YAC, I played this pseudo-powerful woman--she was scheming, manipulative, always trying to get what she wanted. And she did, for the most part. Her character was fun--hard for me as I'm not always the "type A" kind of girl, but fun. But after today's discussion in Lit, I have to wonder--why is it so rare to see a powerful woman who isn't painted as, well--a bitch? Miss Havisham was awesome. The rest of my class thinks she was the ultimate ice queen. The Good Wife of Bath absolutely kicks ass. At least most of us agree on that--she was kind of a player, but honestly? What else can a woman DO for fun in the 14th century? All I'm saying is shoe shopping wasn't really an option...

It's funny. I'm really into reading about domineering women--not the absolute crazies, but someone like queen Elizabeth? So much fun! Shamelessly dangled European noblemen just about her entire life, wore some fantastic dresses, remained chaste (or at least pretended quite well) her entire life. She had this exhibitionist attitude too, though...ordinary events became productions. She was, at her own request, compared to Artemis (who, by the way, happens to be my favorite greek goddess). And boy, was she a force be reckoned with.

Not as strong as mother nature, though. In Enviro, we've been talking about nature's control over the animals that inhabit the earth. All of that organization, all of that dependency--yet nature, when she wants, can wipe out an entire ecosystem. And she has. She's a bit like Elizabeth--showy and strong, not afraid to show her power, which she does through her many complicated processes.

Once again, ladies and gents, it's all connected. I'm sure, given a few more days, there will be new common themes in my life, and I'll have to write again, offering new explanations for why my life--well, my public life anyway--seems to fit together so perfectly. I hope it's always this way.