KissaBoo

I did attend Duke University and graduated with honors in my major...if you didn't see the show you shouldn't make assumptions. Perhaps you are suprised that a woman who attended Duke University was in a show "named" Pieces of Ass. It was quite an empowering experience. We all wrote our own monologues and if you could have attended you probably would have learned alot more than where someone received their bachelors degree.

I haven't seen the show, but I would be interested in hearing what Diahnna, or anyone else for that matter, has to say about the contradiction pointed out by the Salon article--namely, the idea that you ask to be treated as more than just a set of body parts yet very purposefully flaunt those body parts as part of the show. All I could come up with is that you wear the outfits and such to provide context for what you are supposedly experiencing everyday of your lives (as you are being called "pieces of ass" and so forth), but this would only make sense if, in fact, you actually do wear an outfit consisting only of stilettos, a fur coat, and black and purple lace underwear as you go about your daily routine. What makes more sense, sadly enough, is that you wear the outfits to sell more tickets to the hooting and hollering "testosterone haze" (as the Salon article termed it. By the way, it sounds like a wonderful environment to perform.). If that's the case, then I really don't see how I can take your "treat me as more than my body parts" message with even a modicum of seriousness.

Finally, aren't there more pressing issues in this world than "hot chick angst"? What about those people who just weren't "beautiful" enough to eat lunch by the CI quad benches? What about those young Dukies who couldn't get into a sorority because they "didn't fit the image"? Do you want to know what happens to them??? They spend the rest of their lives hating themselves for it. It's a pity because a lot of these people have that "inner beauty" (beauty beyond being a mere set of body parts) that your show supposedly centers around. Granted, their story is probably a bit trite by now and certainly couldn't compete with your T & A production, but it's a serious problem nonetheless. Perhaps if you weren't so self-absorbed you would see this too.

There are more pressing issues than "hot chick angst." This is not my whole life nor is it my revolution. It is an acting gig that in which I was able to write my own monologue and thus have control and be a bigger part of the creative process than just the "actor". For that reason it was empowering and I feel that I can defend it to those who judge based on what they have heard (if you went to Duke you know what that is about.)
I was not a typical Dukie who was in a sorority and wanted to fit in to that image. As a black woman on Duke's campus I had to deal with a whole host of other issues that did not even concern the pettiness of sorority life on Duke's campus dominated by the white majority. I am sure that most of those people have that "inner beauty" as I believe all of us do and probably had plenty more to offer than most that had the "looks" to get them by. If you read my piece or saw the show you would know that I talk about being sick of everyone judging me or relating to me based on my outer "beauty" and by their fetish with "erotic" looking or to put it blatantly colored pussy. You and I would probably agree with more than you think and all of us have differnt voices based on our experience. Everything I studied at Duke revolved around women and trust that I would not be voicing anything to further the exploitation of women and women of color. And those young "dukies" who still have issues because they didn't fit in because they weren't "pretty" enough ... the "pretty" ones learn quickly that they might of been chosen just because they were, nothing more. Is either one any better/worse? Regardless, thank you for the discussion...
Diahnna

And about the clothes we wore...each of us wore different outfits in regards to our piece. I happened to wear a suit with high heels. If a woman goes out on a date with a miniskirt on and gets raped...did she deserve it? Ws she asking for it? Can we please stop blaming women's bodies for the cause of men's hatred/insecurites and abuse towards women or for that matter women's insecurites/abuse/hatred towards other women?
Diahnna

I thank you for your thoughtful reply. Looking back at the Salon article I think a lot of my frustrations are directed at your co-actors--you just happened to be the only one to post. If, as I understand it, your show consists of a series of individually created monologues, it is certainly unfair to group all of you together. Each person deals with their beauty/angst differently, and this may have been something lost on the reviewers.

Regardless, it sounds like you are having fun with the show. I wish you the best on your opening night for your encore performance. (Today 9/8/03)

Hey admin! Since this thread is stuck in your archives, maybe you should repost it--kind of like Slashback on a *slightly* more popular blog-like site. ;-)