ArtUncovered: St.Orlan vs. Bridalplasty

Meet our Bloggers

Beth Kwapis, Museum Coordinator Dream Title: Connoisseur of Human Folly Beth is: more voyeur than exhibitionist and is thus completely terrified to be sharing her thoughts via blog. That is no joke! I love mid-century Modern anything and I want to adopt 1-4 dachshunds with my husband (he remains ambivalent on the subject). Originally from the Detroit area, I am currently flirting with becoming a pescetarian because all one's protien needs can be met with the incredible sushi I'm discovering in San Diego. I basically snagged this job by coming into the Museum and begging the kind front desk staff to pass on my resume. I am not sure how I've managed to keep it. Carissa Baird, Museum Clerk Dream Title: Your Awesomeness Carissa is: an art lovin', fro wearin', burrito eatin', red wine drinkin', world travelin', movie watchin', girl with the small wrist tattoo. A political, sociological, feminist, (wannabe) artist, thinker, thrill-seeker, reader, and tiny dancer. A laid-back lady who left her heart in San Francisco--but came back with a college degree, and (future) pet whale in Antarctica--but he doesn't know I'm coming to claim him yet. I got this job because I have cool shoes, but I've kept it because I work with cool people. I'd rather be road trippin'. I eat boys and blogs for breakfast. Oh, and I love cliche's. GO CHARGERS!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

St.Orlan vs. Bridalplasty

CNN breaks down Bridalplasty for you.

I don’t have a television. Actually, I have a TV, but no cable. I get only 10 channels that allow me the local news and football games. But after a night at my girlfriend’s house of watching a hilarious Twilight marathon and making moonshine, we flipped to E! and that’s when I realized why only having basic cable is a blessing—Bridalplasty! I can’t explain in words the feeling of nausea that set in, but I will say that it was significant. I couldn’t believe my eyes/ears/stomach/society, and it made me think of artist, Orlan.

Orlan used plastic surgery as a medium for her performance art pieces, and everyone thought she was completely nuts. People were outraged. But then this show comes along, in which women are competing to have this done to them before their weddings (to these men who supposedly love them the way they are) and we glorify and celebritize it? I’m not following. I’m imagining Orlan, smiling smugly at this (or totally frustrated), because I think this was exactly the type of madness she was trying to draw attention to. Anyways, I’ll let you make your own conclusions about the implications of this trainwreck. . . I’ll be at my friend’s house watching Bridalplasty. . .Don’t judge me!