Writing can be a beast a lot of the time. It’s so relaxing and helpful when I write for myself. And since I’m highly critical of my own work, I tend to sport the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde outfit without any assistance from the outside world. But when I have to write for others it takes on a decidedly different spin.
Whenever I write for work it’s anxiety producing because I’ve been through the ringer on so many occasions. Business writing is so different from what I’ve written academically and for pleasure. It’s supposed to be concise and straightforward. Although I completely understand this difference, there are times when I struggle because those parameters are limiting and they create loopholes. So you need to be detailed to avoid potential issues. Therein lies the rub, how can you be detailed and concise at the same time? It’s very tricky. I am definitely not a master at this whatsoever.
What drives me crazy is how no one in the business world wants to write and yet, they love to edit. They are brutal with it too. I find it unfair. Just the other day I wrote a procedure that I sent around to a bunch of people to see what they thought. They all thought it was very good. I should have been proud of my work. However, I wasn’t because I knew the real audience was going to chew the draft up and spit it out with me suspended in the spit wad.
One person actually had the nerve to say “Fix this and I’ll help you edit it. It’s so easy to edit and so hard to write.” I wanted to smack the person and say to them…’why don’t you give writing a chance and then you might not be so harsh with your criticism?’ (Some of which were valid but still tame it down!). And no matter how many times people tell me not to take the criticism personally, it’s unavoidable. As someone who enjoys writing (I won’t say I’m a writer!), most of what I write is about how I feel, what I see and my comments on those things. It’s about me and it’s personal. Granted in the work world, it isn’t that way at all. The purpose of the writing is to give information, instruction and on a very rare occasion, an opinion. But it’s still annoying to have to sit there and get your work edited when people don’t have the slightest sense of how hard it is to write nor how individual it is.
Time to put on my hard shell now so that I can chip away at my next work writing task.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Physical Therapy (Part 3)
It was not a good day. Angie woke up in a lot of pain due to her not being able to sleep the night before. Pain while sleeping, pain upon waking; this was not looking good. Angie took the day off from work to get some sleep and to aggressively do the exercises that the physical therapist told her to do. Even though she had done them all weekend, she became obsessed that doing more of them would help her feel better.
After a few naps and a number of stretching sessions, she felt better but not great. Angie’s lower back was hurting more than her middle back today and she didn’t know why.
She boarded the subway for her appointment and went to her session. She learned a couple of new exercises and then lay on the table to get an assessment of the muscle after heating it up with exercise. Just as Angie had suspected, her lower back was far tighter than her middle back. Lily validated that and told her that one side was considerably tighter than her other side. Lily asked Angie if she used a dual monitor at work. Angie confirmed that she did. Lily went on to tell Angie that she needed to adjust her work station because it was affecting her back. If she turned more to one side than the other to do her work, her muscles were going to shorten on the side where she turned the most.
“I learn something every day!” Angie thought to herself.
Lily explained to Angie that the human body isn’t meant to sit down for so many hours a day and that many repetitive and small tasks could impact the body without us knowing. Angie needed to be more aware of these tiny repetitive motions. She got her heat pad but didn’t take a nap. Angie proceeded to watch a fellow injured person go through wrist manipulations and exercises for carpal tunnel syndrome.
After she left the session, Angie swore to tell all her work friends with dual monitors to make the adjustments they needed. Angie didn’t want anyone else to have to go through these issues she was having.
After a few naps and a number of stretching sessions, she felt better but not great. Angie’s lower back was hurting more than her middle back today and she didn’t know why.
She boarded the subway for her appointment and went to her session. She learned a couple of new exercises and then lay on the table to get an assessment of the muscle after heating it up with exercise. Just as Angie had suspected, her lower back was far tighter than her middle back. Lily validated that and told her that one side was considerably tighter than her other side. Lily asked Angie if she used a dual monitor at work. Angie confirmed that she did. Lily went on to tell Angie that she needed to adjust her work station because it was affecting her back. If she turned more to one side than the other to do her work, her muscles were going to shorten on the side where she turned the most.
“I learn something every day!” Angie thought to herself.
Lily explained to Angie that the human body isn’t meant to sit down for so many hours a day and that many repetitive and small tasks could impact the body without us knowing. Angie needed to be more aware of these tiny repetitive motions. She got her heat pad but didn’t take a nap. Angie proceeded to watch a fellow injured person go through wrist manipulations and exercises for carpal tunnel syndrome.
After she left the session, Angie swore to tell all her work friends with dual monitors to make the adjustments they needed. Angie didn’t want anyone else to have to go through these issues she was having.
Pins and Needles #5
The other night I couldn’t take the pain in my back so during the day I decided to go for an acupuncture session. I used to get acupuncture years ago but it had been at least a year since the last time I’d gone. It was different this time around.
This time my back was in a worse pain than it had been when I went before. I can’t even sleep from the amount of pain that I experience. My muscles have always been tense but never to this degree. The shortened muscles in my back were what led me to pull my back muscles in the first place. I needed so much more help this time around than I ever did in the past.
Before this occasion, I’d feel the slight prick of the needle and then I would lay there for some time while the needles worked their magic. This time around the practitioner added a clamp onto the needle and had electric currents go into my back muscle. The initial jolt freaked me out but it then really helped. The current warmed up my muscle and I could feel the muscle loosen as I began to fall asleep. After some time the practitioner woke me up and did a session of cupping to take out more of the tension. Both of these methods did help me feel more relaxed and the muscle did loosen up a bit. It was still very tight but better than the block of granite it had been when I walked into the office.
I know a lot of people haven’t tried acupuncture but I highly recommend it. Who would believe that a small needle could help you feel so much better?
This time my back was in a worse pain than it had been when I went before. I can’t even sleep from the amount of pain that I experience. My muscles have always been tense but never to this degree. The shortened muscles in my back were what led me to pull my back muscles in the first place. I needed so much more help this time around than I ever did in the past.
Before this occasion, I’d feel the slight prick of the needle and then I would lay there for some time while the needles worked their magic. This time around the practitioner added a clamp onto the needle and had electric currents go into my back muscle. The initial jolt freaked me out but it then really helped. The current warmed up my muscle and I could feel the muscle loosen as I began to fall asleep. After some time the practitioner woke me up and did a session of cupping to take out more of the tension. Both of these methods did help me feel more relaxed and the muscle did loosen up a bit. It was still very tight but better than the block of granite it had been when I walked into the office.
I know a lot of people haven’t tried acupuncture but I highly recommend it. Who would believe that a small needle could help you feel so much better?
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Physical Therapy (Pt 2 of the miniseries)
It started out as a bad day. Angie was awaken at a little before 5 am with pain. NO matter how she moved and turned, the pain continued and she couldn’t get back to sleep. So she got up and did some stretches and felt better.
She momentarily got annoyed by a work email she received but then got dressed to go to her physical therapy appointment. The weather was gloomy, grey and glum – not to mention humid. The subway was packed but she pushed herself in with the rest of the commuting sardines.
Arriving at the physical therapy location, Lily told her to do the stretches that she had taught Angie the other day. Angie learned a couple of new stretches and exercises for her back. It was simple enough.
Until Lily did a spinal adjustment on Angie, then the pain began. Cracks and noises – sounds that humans shouldn’t make - emanated from Angie’s back. She then had to turn onto her side where for the first time in her life, Angie got her ribs cracked. Whimpering happened again.
Then came the heat blanket that was applied to Angie’s back. Next came the drowsiness from the heat and from the relaxation. After that came the snoring. Soon thereafter, the alarm notifying Lily that Angie’s heating pad time was up. Groggily and drowsily Angie made her way out the door and back home to type this report up.
Stay Tuned for the next installment
She momentarily got annoyed by a work email she received but then got dressed to go to her physical therapy appointment. The weather was gloomy, grey and glum – not to mention humid. The subway was packed but she pushed herself in with the rest of the commuting sardines.
Arriving at the physical therapy location, Lily told her to do the stretches that she had taught Angie the other day. Angie learned a couple of new stretches and exercises for her back. It was simple enough.
Until Lily did a spinal adjustment on Angie, then the pain began. Cracks and noises – sounds that humans shouldn’t make - emanated from Angie’s back. She then had to turn onto her side where for the first time in her life, Angie got her ribs cracked. Whimpering happened again.
Then came the heat blanket that was applied to Angie’s back. Next came the drowsiness from the heat and from the relaxation. After that came the snoring. Soon thereafter, the alarm notifying Lily that Angie’s heating pad time was up. Groggily and drowsily Angie made her way out the door and back home to type this report up.
Stay Tuned for the next installment
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
In the Garden
Last year I conducted an experiment in my parent’s garden. I decided I would give planting some vegetables a try. Both of my parents have green thumbs. I didn’t have much luck with plants growing up. I killed a lot of plants my mom had given me. I convinced myself that I was not the progeny of these two veritable botanists. Nonetheless I was going to give this a try.
I went to the local Home Depot to see what kinds of seeds and plants they had. It was already a little late in May when I got this brilliant idea so I wasn’t sure what I would find. I picked up some seeds for green and yellow zucchini, some spinach and various flowers. I followed the instruction on the packages doubting what I was doing all the way. I left the seeds in their pots and planters for them to do whatever they needed to do.
The following weekend we went to visit my parents and nothing had happened. I was a little bummed but decided that they would still need more time. I watered them all with Miracle Gro and let them be.
The next weekend leaves began to sprout on all of the planters and the following week they were flourishing. A few weeks after that we moved the zucchini plants from the planters to the ground. Then there was a boom. Week after week we’d take a trip to see my parents and there were zucchinis galore. I couldn’t believe it because I didn’t really do too much (as you can see for yourself because I’ve described it in this entry)!
After a while though I was at a loss for what to do with all the zucchini that was proliferating in my parent’s garden. I grilled a lot of it, made ridiculous new concoctions with it, and I even gave some away. Regardless of how the insane amount of zucchini that I ate last summer, it was really fantastic to see what I planted with my own hands become something I could eat. My parents were proud of me although they never said this to me. They told people we knew that I had planted zucchini and that a lot of it grew (heck, my parents were helping me get rid of the explosive population of zucchini taking over their garden).
I’m going to continue my experiment this year; this time with fewer zucchini. I have to figure out what happened with the spinach; it never really became more than a few leaves. I tried some eggplant already this year. I haven’t seen much come out of those seeds yet. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for another vegetable harvest this summer.
I went to the local Home Depot to see what kinds of seeds and plants they had. It was already a little late in May when I got this brilliant idea so I wasn’t sure what I would find. I picked up some seeds for green and yellow zucchini, some spinach and various flowers. I followed the instruction on the packages doubting what I was doing all the way. I left the seeds in their pots and planters for them to do whatever they needed to do.
The following weekend we went to visit my parents and nothing had happened. I was a little bummed but decided that they would still need more time. I watered them all with Miracle Gro and let them be.
The next weekend leaves began to sprout on all of the planters and the following week they were flourishing. A few weeks after that we moved the zucchini plants from the planters to the ground. Then there was a boom. Week after week we’d take a trip to see my parents and there were zucchinis galore. I couldn’t believe it because I didn’t really do too much (as you can see for yourself because I’ve described it in this entry)!
After a while though I was at a loss for what to do with all the zucchini that was proliferating in my parent’s garden. I grilled a lot of it, made ridiculous new concoctions with it, and I even gave some away. Regardless of how the insane amount of zucchini that I ate last summer, it was really fantastic to see what I planted with my own hands become something I could eat. My parents were proud of me although they never said this to me. They told people we knew that I had planted zucchini and that a lot of it grew (heck, my parents were helping me get rid of the explosive population of zucchini taking over their garden).
I’m going to continue my experiment this year; this time with fewer zucchini. I have to figure out what happened with the spinach; it never really became more than a few leaves. I tried some eggplant already this year. I haven’t seen much come out of those seeds yet. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for another vegetable harvest this summer.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Physical Therapy (Part 1 in a miniseries)
On today’s episode of Angie’s physical therapy session, we learn what is wrong with Angie’s back.
Angie walked to the physical therapy facility after doing her cardio workout at the nearby gym. She bought her work bag, containing her laptop with her, although she thought it would have been better to leave it locked up at the gym.
She walked in with her menagerie of bags and greeted the receptionist in a very chipper mood for a gloomy Tuesday morning. She proceeded to fill out paperwork and ask whether the facility had a shower (which it did not!) and then sat to read The New Yorker cartoons while waiting for the evaluation with the physical therapist.
After a few moments the physical therapist called her over to an office. The office contained a massage table and a few chairs with a couple of physical representations of spinal columns. The physical therapist asked Angie about the pain.
Angie told the physical therapist (Lily) that a couple of weeks ago, Angie had rolled out of bed and felt the worst pain imaginable in her back – like a monster grabbed at her back and squished her muscles together. After the sudden traumatic event, Angie was able to get out of bed and walk around. Heck, she even went to the gym. Angie continued to tell the Lily that her pain was mostly at night while she slept. After her pain medication wore off, Angie would wake up in pain and not be able to sleep.
Lily then asked Angie to do a couple of things:
1) To touched her toes
2) To twist her back from left to right and back
3) To slide her arms down each side of her body
4) To squat
5) To curve and concave her spine
Angie was able to do everything but not within the acceptable range of motion. Lily made Angie walk while she watched her. She then followed this exercise by making her walk really fast and to then run.
Angie got on a table where Lily did a number of tests to see how strong Angie was to resist actions. Basically, it wasn’t so good.
The diagnosis: Angie’s core muscles, especially her abdominals, were taxed too much and her back overcompensated for this fatigue by pulling at her back muscle – creating a muscle spasm/pulled muscle. This was so bad that it was slowly moving to her hips. Lily was very happy to inform Angie that it was only muscular and her injury didn’t involve her nerves. She told her to come back twice a week for 6 weeks and that she would help Angie to get her muscles back in line and correct the issues that had caused this in the first place.
Lily adjusted Angie’s spine, which scared and then relieved her. While massaging her back, Angie whimpered because she was in pain.
And that my friends is what happened in therapy today. Tune in later this week for more progress and insights into pulled back muscles.
Angie walked to the physical therapy facility after doing her cardio workout at the nearby gym. She bought her work bag, containing her laptop with her, although she thought it would have been better to leave it locked up at the gym.
She walked in with her menagerie of bags and greeted the receptionist in a very chipper mood for a gloomy Tuesday morning. She proceeded to fill out paperwork and ask whether the facility had a shower (which it did not!) and then sat to read The New Yorker cartoons while waiting for the evaluation with the physical therapist.
After a few moments the physical therapist called her over to an office. The office contained a massage table and a few chairs with a couple of physical representations of spinal columns. The physical therapist asked Angie about the pain.
Angie told the physical therapist (Lily) that a couple of weeks ago, Angie had rolled out of bed and felt the worst pain imaginable in her back – like a monster grabbed at her back and squished her muscles together. After the sudden traumatic event, Angie was able to get out of bed and walk around. Heck, she even went to the gym. Angie continued to tell the Lily that her pain was mostly at night while she slept. After her pain medication wore off, Angie would wake up in pain and not be able to sleep.
Lily then asked Angie to do a couple of things:
1) To touched her toes
2) To twist her back from left to right and back
3) To slide her arms down each side of her body
4) To squat
5) To curve and concave her spine
Angie was able to do everything but not within the acceptable range of motion. Lily made Angie walk while she watched her. She then followed this exercise by making her walk really fast and to then run.
Angie got on a table where Lily did a number of tests to see how strong Angie was to resist actions. Basically, it wasn’t so good.
The diagnosis: Angie’s core muscles, especially her abdominals, were taxed too much and her back overcompensated for this fatigue by pulling at her back muscle – creating a muscle spasm/pulled muscle. This was so bad that it was slowly moving to her hips. Lily was very happy to inform Angie that it was only muscular and her injury didn’t involve her nerves. She told her to come back twice a week for 6 weeks and that she would help Angie to get her muscles back in line and correct the issues that had caused this in the first place.
Lily adjusted Angie’s spine, which scared and then relieved her. While massaging her back, Angie whimpered because she was in pain.
And that my friends is what happened in therapy today. Tune in later this week for more progress and insights into pulled back muscles.
Body Works
Recently I pulled a muscle in my back. I am not entirely sure how I did it but a couple of incidents might be to blame:
1) My kettle bells class
2) My poor posture
3) Rolling out of bed too quickly to attack my alarm clock one morning
4) Turning the mattress on my bed
It’s been a few weeks now that I’ve been experiencing tension and tightness in my middle to lower back. During the day it doesn’t really bother me despite my sitting for hours. Exercising for the most part seems to help my back. But at night I’m tormented by pains that wake me up after my anti-inflammatory medication wears off.
Last week I went to see the doctor and I got Xrays. The Xrays were comforting in that at least no bones were broken. The doctor confirmed my suspicions of a muscle spasm and told me to go for physical therapy. This is all fine and dandy.
What is frustrating me most about this whole issue is that here I was trying to get in better shape by going to my kettle bells class and increasing my exercise time at the gym. And what does it get me? Pain and discomfort not from muscle soreness but muscle pain.
I always feel like my body is talking to me. It tells me when I’m fighting an infection. It whispers to me when certain processes are not viable. It shouts when I need to stop doing an exercise. And I listen to it because I know it knows me and I know it very well. But it still doesn’t cooperate when I want to get in shape. I guess it’s telling me that I still need to take it easy.
I am grateful for all my body has done and what it continues to do. I just wish it would work with me a little more lately. Please let me go back to the gym and my class!
1) My kettle bells class
2) My poor posture
3) Rolling out of bed too quickly to attack my alarm clock one morning
4) Turning the mattress on my bed
It’s been a few weeks now that I’ve been experiencing tension and tightness in my middle to lower back. During the day it doesn’t really bother me despite my sitting for hours. Exercising for the most part seems to help my back. But at night I’m tormented by pains that wake me up after my anti-inflammatory medication wears off.
Last week I went to see the doctor and I got Xrays. The Xrays were comforting in that at least no bones were broken. The doctor confirmed my suspicions of a muscle spasm and told me to go for physical therapy. This is all fine and dandy.
What is frustrating me most about this whole issue is that here I was trying to get in better shape by going to my kettle bells class and increasing my exercise time at the gym. And what does it get me? Pain and discomfort not from muscle soreness but muscle pain.
I always feel like my body is talking to me. It tells me when I’m fighting an infection. It whispers to me when certain processes are not viable. It shouts when I need to stop doing an exercise. And I listen to it because I know it knows me and I know it very well. But it still doesn’t cooperate when I want to get in shape. I guess it’s telling me that I still need to take it easy.
I am grateful for all my body has done and what it continues to do. I just wish it would work with me a little more lately. Please let me go back to the gym and my class!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Getting Naked
Fear not, this will not need to be rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. This entry is about how people react when the weather gets warmer.
Today, for instance, the temperature is at 80 degrees in NYC. I just went to walk my dog and have noticed the majority of the population of my neighborhood in various states of undress. This is normal behavior in the summer; the less you wear, the happier you are.
However the problem that I have with this behavior in the spring is that I think it’s a case of too little, too soon.
I won’t pull out my shorts and tank tops just yet because well, I don’t really wear those items of clothing out in the street too often anyway. But also because I know that tomorrow the weather is going to dip at least 20 degrees. This kind of fluctuation in temperature and my dressing to fit the thermometer only leads me to get sick. I take the necessary precaution of not wearing my winter coat and putting on a tee shirt and a sweater for days such as today. This quick hit of heat only reminds me that it’s still spring and any oddness is still possible. Think back a few weeks ago when the weather hit 74 on a Friday and the following Monday, we experiences temperatures in the 20s. Can you see my rationale behind keeping the clothing on a little longer than necessary?
However, other people feel the slightest increase in temperature and decide it’s time to play a version of strip poker with no cards. The sunglasses come out (rightfully so I might add – it’s good to protect your eyes) and the items of clothing disappear. And I don’t have a problem with that behavior at all. What I do have problems with are the people who wear their bras and super short shorts (which might actually be underwear) and Ugg boots outside in this weather. If you are just as confused about the weather as I am, perhaps a little more clothing and flip flops might be a better transition?
Today, for instance, the temperature is at 80 degrees in NYC. I just went to walk my dog and have noticed the majority of the population of my neighborhood in various states of undress. This is normal behavior in the summer; the less you wear, the happier you are.
However the problem that I have with this behavior in the spring is that I think it’s a case of too little, too soon.
I won’t pull out my shorts and tank tops just yet because well, I don’t really wear those items of clothing out in the street too often anyway. But also because I know that tomorrow the weather is going to dip at least 20 degrees. This kind of fluctuation in temperature and my dressing to fit the thermometer only leads me to get sick. I take the necessary precaution of not wearing my winter coat and putting on a tee shirt and a sweater for days such as today. This quick hit of heat only reminds me that it’s still spring and any oddness is still possible. Think back a few weeks ago when the weather hit 74 on a Friday and the following Monday, we experiences temperatures in the 20s. Can you see my rationale behind keeping the clothing on a little longer than necessary?
However, other people feel the slightest increase in temperature and decide it’s time to play a version of strip poker with no cards. The sunglasses come out (rightfully so I might add – it’s good to protect your eyes) and the items of clothing disappear. And I don’t have a problem with that behavior at all. What I do have problems with are the people who wear their bras and super short shorts (which might actually be underwear) and Ugg boots outside in this weather. If you are just as confused about the weather as I am, perhaps a little more clothing and flip flops might be a better transition?
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
The Tooth Fairy
On my way to book club last night, I saw a sign in the window of a store stating:
Tooth Fairy Registry here
I actually stopped walking and stared at the display window for a few minutes; I just couldn’t believe the nonsense of this idea!
I walked into the store to ask someone what this tooth fairy registry was about because I didn’t want to assume anything. The clerk told me it is a chance for kids to write down what they want to get when they lose their teeth. Sadly I assumed correctly.
Instead of saying “Are you kidding me?” I told the clerk “Thank you!” I proceeded to barge out of the store and ruminated on this idea until I got to the book club location.
I just can’t believe it! The whole idea of the tooth fairy in my house was that you would put your newly lost tooth under the pillow, and upon waking up the next day you’d have a little gift there. My parents, I mean the tooth fairy, gave me money, which I showed them proudly when I went to the breakfast table. My mom was always surprised and would say ‘Wow!’ or something to that end. My dad would advise me to save the money so that I could buy something I really wanted. I learned via the tooth fairy to budget for items I really wanted. Now it seems that kids just get whatever they want right off the bat. How does that teach kids to be responsible for money and for what they want? I’m not sure what this tooth fairy registry teaches kids except that they don’t have to work for anything.
Maybe I’m missing something here. It’s been a long time since I was a kid and the world has changed.
Tooth Fairy Registry here
I actually stopped walking and stared at the display window for a few minutes; I just couldn’t believe the nonsense of this idea!
I walked into the store to ask someone what this tooth fairy registry was about because I didn’t want to assume anything. The clerk told me it is a chance for kids to write down what they want to get when they lose their teeth. Sadly I assumed correctly.
Instead of saying “Are you kidding me?” I told the clerk “Thank you!” I proceeded to barge out of the store and ruminated on this idea until I got to the book club location.
I just can’t believe it! The whole idea of the tooth fairy in my house was that you would put your newly lost tooth under the pillow, and upon waking up the next day you’d have a little gift there. My parents, I mean the tooth fairy, gave me money, which I showed them proudly when I went to the breakfast table. My mom was always surprised and would say ‘Wow!’ or something to that end. My dad would advise me to save the money so that I could buy something I really wanted. I learned via the tooth fairy to budget for items I really wanted. Now it seems that kids just get whatever they want right off the bat. How does that teach kids to be responsible for money and for what they want? I’m not sure what this tooth fairy registry teaches kids except that they don’t have to work for anything.
Maybe I’m missing something here. It’s been a long time since I was a kid and the world has changed.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Bringing Out the Worst in Others
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12966698
The article link above refers to a woman who attacked one of Gaugain’s paintings in the National Gallery in Washington over the weekend. I actually went to see this exhibit and I can and cannot understand the reaction.
It does depict two bare breasted Tahitian women, which seems like something most men want to paint. I don’t see Gaugain being different than most men in that regard. I’m not saying I condone it, just pointing out that I don’t think it’s that controversial. The lady said it’s homosexual. I really can’t see that because it’s not as though the women are making out with each other. They happen to be standing naked side by side and extending flowers to someone. If the woman feels this way, she has every right to be annoyed and upset with the painting. Just don’t try to mess up the art!
Not sure what it is about Gaugain that drives people so crazy. As I was telling my friend when we were at the exhibit, I remember that my professor for a course in The History Of Art also had very disparaging things to say about Gaugain. She prefaced the class saying that she really didn’t like him as a person or an artist but that he was very important to the history of art so we needed to go over him. She did tell us why she didn’t like him and her reasons seemed justifiable.
Oddly enough, even before my professor’s tirade, I wasn’t a big fan of Gaugain’s either. I appreciate his art but is it my favorite? Absolutely not! The fact that he was very arrogant doesn’t make him very popular in my eyes either.
So I guess it’s not just me and my old professor that dislike Gaugain as a person, apparently this lady does too. Not sure why this artist brings out the worst in some people. Any thoughts?
The article link above refers to a woman who attacked one of Gaugain’s paintings in the National Gallery in Washington over the weekend. I actually went to see this exhibit and I can and cannot understand the reaction.
It does depict two bare breasted Tahitian women, which seems like something most men want to paint. I don’t see Gaugain being different than most men in that regard. I’m not saying I condone it, just pointing out that I don’t think it’s that controversial. The lady said it’s homosexual. I really can’t see that because it’s not as though the women are making out with each other. They happen to be standing naked side by side and extending flowers to someone. If the woman feels this way, she has every right to be annoyed and upset with the painting. Just don’t try to mess up the art!
Not sure what it is about Gaugain that drives people so crazy. As I was telling my friend when we were at the exhibit, I remember that my professor for a course in The History Of Art also had very disparaging things to say about Gaugain. She prefaced the class saying that she really didn’t like him as a person or an artist but that he was very important to the history of art so we needed to go over him. She did tell us why she didn’t like him and her reasons seemed justifiable.
Oddly enough, even before my professor’s tirade, I wasn’t a big fan of Gaugain’s either. I appreciate his art but is it my favorite? Absolutely not! The fact that he was very arrogant doesn’t make him very popular in my eyes either.
So I guess it’s not just me and my old professor that dislike Gaugain as a person, apparently this lady does too. Not sure why this artist brings out the worst in some people. Any thoughts?
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