By: TeriThe imagery of Cirque Du Soleil is globally recognized for its aesthetic beauty, the grace of fluid bodies performing defying acts.
Not often are these descriptions given to the disabled...until now.
Sins Invalid's work is a vibrant necessity in this age of bland complacency. They take the medical and societal parameters that have historically relegated the disabled citizen to a less than second class position and they throw it aside.
The art that is presented brings the intersectionality of race, gender, class, and ability and throws it in your face, forcing the viewer to come to terms with how these realities are not so different and yet so different for those with disabilities. And this is beautifully done with the erotic and the body.
Feminists are quite familiar with the politics of the body. How familiar are feminists with the issues that surround persons with disabilities?
The medical model, as often brought to the forefront with reproductive rights, illustrates how the medical industry continues eugenics with regular genetic testing on the fetus. If a fetus is shown to have a defect, the usual course is abortion. Why is this a normality? What is spoken in our society that says what is outside of societal norms is wrong? Are only "perfect" babies acceptable? Isn't the argument of financial costs a reflection of our health system rather than a reason for deeming a group of people inferior?
Sins Invalid brings to the forefront many important issues and questions that is crucial for all activist movements to bring under their wing. Marginalization of any group of persons is detrimental to all.
Sins Invalid shows that the issues we fight for can come in many forms...their form illustrates the beauty of sensuality and the beauty of all bodies...especially when stripped of limiting ideology.
3 comments:
Thanks for posting this unique, beautiful piece, Terri!
I was just a little concerned about the use of the term eugenics in reference to pre-natal care and tests. Although doctors are notorious for not gracefully allowing patients their own health rights, they are still required to. Ultimately, it is each woman's choice to abort a fetus or not, not her doctor's, irregardless of the reason. I'm under the impression that these genetic tests are normally only requested/performed when one or both parents are known carriers based on whichever condition is under concern. The fact that you dare us to question some common reasonings, I think is noteworthy. I'm sure all of us hope decisions are reached in this matter with more vital concerns, like the pain and survivability of the anticipated child based on the condition, rather than concerns based on vanity and disillusionment. I even was told in class that a patient had a test done that showed an indication of a deformity, but it couldn't be narrowed down. It wasn't until the child was several years old and the doctor who taught my class saw him, that the parent ever discovered what the deformity was: Klippel-Feil Syndrome, a rather benign set of anomalies in the cervical spine. I hope all parents making this decision are being educated on the range of conditions they might be facing.
I'm not sure if I conveyed that thought clearly, so if I leave anyone confused as to my intent, just ask. :)
Wow! I watched Rodney Bell's video.
"Sins Invalid recognizes that we will be liberated as whole beings".
I love that they have workshops that combine written, spoken and visual arts to raise awareness and facilitate empowerment.
Teri how did you come across this?
It wasn't until the Sins Invalid presentation that I even thought about the possibility of the medical model and eugenics. It is important enough to introduce and explore the idea of what is constituted as normal practice. It's never wrong to ask questions!
Sins Invalid presented within the Summer Institute at San Francisco State University (http://nsrc.sfsu.edu/) - an AMAZING program I have been honored to be a part of.
I cannot wait to share so much with Phem...alot of important work that is going on here...
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