I loved this, especially your writing on Kahlo. This all brings to mind Naomi Klein’s writing on doppelgängers. We split ourselves over what we fear, covet, disdain… all so fascinating!
I still neeeeeed to read doppelgänger. I saw Naomi Klein speak at the New Yorker festival a couple years ago and was super impressed. Thanks for reading Stacey :)
This was such a great read, especially as someone who is in the midst of writing a Memoir. I think of this particular art form as a way of making peace with our past; we understand the futility of trying to change or forget it. I love the idea of considering Bieber and Gaga’s work as a type of memoir (or hall of mirrors, as you say) as well as the more obvious examples of Lena Dunham and Frida Kahlo. We use ourselves as a muse because anything else is too unknowable, educated estimations at best. Ultimately, what we reach towards is that the work becomes a form of alchemy that rubs off on the reader, listener, observer. A small drop in the ocean that might help someone we’ll never get to meet.
Ugh I need to get my grubby little hands on a copy of Famesick already, so interesting to think about being able to re create your experiencing within your own control. Appreciate your thoughts as always!
Broke down and bought a copy cause I couldn’t wait for it to be available at the library, read it in 4 days and was sad when I finished it. I don’t care what they say about Lena I am one of her defenders.
"Like a flood of parrots caught in a steel chamber, mimics of her self-narration lingered on in her absence from public life." followed by that Frida portrait kind of gave me chills??? So good!!
so sweet it? i wrote that and then days later, when i was diving into frida, i saw that portrait and was like... wait this fits perfectly?!? i love it when art talks to each other like that. thanks so much for reading :)
absolutely brilliant! just finished reading Famesick as well and love how you grapple with the project of autobiography/idea of self-actualization post self-reflection here, especially as it relates to the meta-ness of the bieberchella set. will be rereading over and over!
Only you could’ve threaded all these needles
thank you emily 🫶🏿🧡
Master dot-connector
call me a constellation the way i be connecting those dots
😭
I loved this, especially your writing on Kahlo. This all brings to mind Naomi Klein’s writing on doppelgängers. We split ourselves over what we fear, covet, disdain… all so fascinating!
I still neeeeeed to read doppelgänger. I saw Naomi Klein speak at the New Yorker festival a couple years ago and was super impressed. Thanks for reading Stacey :)
It is so good and ever relevant! Would love to hear your thoughts if/when you get to it :))
This was such a great read, especially as someone who is in the midst of writing a Memoir. I think of this particular art form as a way of making peace with our past; we understand the futility of trying to change or forget it. I love the idea of considering Bieber and Gaga’s work as a type of memoir (or hall of mirrors, as you say) as well as the more obvious examples of Lena Dunham and Frida Kahlo. We use ourselves as a muse because anything else is too unknowable, educated estimations at best. Ultimately, what we reach towards is that the work becomes a form of alchemy that rubs off on the reader, listener, observer. A small drop in the ocean that might help someone we’ll never get to meet.
“The world becomes a form of alchemy that rubs off on the reader” I love it! Thanks so much for reading so thoughtfully :)
Fantastic! Really got me with the Don Draper-Hannah Montana through line. Would love to see a Venn diagram about those two
I keep saying that I need to do a mad men rewatch.. maybe this is the time! Thank you for reading :)
I really do too! I haven’t watched since I was an actual child. I need to watch with an adult perspective.
Another incredible read my friend. Thank you for sharing your talents with us.
thank you so much Marco :) appreciate you reading this longer one!
Ugh I need to get my grubby little hands on a copy of Famesick already, so interesting to think about being able to re create your experiencing within your own control. Appreciate your thoughts as always!
let me know what you think once you read :)
Broke down and bought a copy cause I couldn’t wait for it to be available at the library, read it in 4 days and was sad when I finished it. I don’t care what they say about Lena I am one of her defenders.
"Like a flood of parrots caught in a steel chamber, mimics of her self-narration lingered on in her absence from public life." followed by that Frida portrait kind of gave me chills??? So good!!
so sweet it? i wrote that and then days later, when i was diving into frida, i saw that portrait and was like... wait this fits perfectly?!? i love it when art talks to each other like that. thanks so much for reading :)
Really brilliant connections made here
Thank you for reading :)
absolutely brilliant! just finished reading Famesick as well and love how you grapple with the project of autobiography/idea of self-actualization post self-reflection here, especially as it relates to the meta-ness of the bieberchella set. will be rereading over and over!