May 8, 1915/2019
Dear Maud,
You look stunning! I wish I could pull off an outfit like that! Wherever did you get it from? Part harlot, part orientalist imagination…you are a master of fantasy. And what a femme fatale. I mean I’m a femme and I feel kind of fatal when I think of you carrying the severed head of John the Baptiste on a platter…did you really kiss it? Well, I suppose I would kiss it too if I could sever the head of patriarchy and kiss it goodbye. Death can be sexy if it’s the death of an oppressive regime!
I keep thinking of all these men swooning after you and your spectacular performance of Salome - I suppose they prefer beheading to castration but I really don’t understand the hype. Really, though I’ve heard that you lavish your attentions on your female secretary?
So why do you do it then? Are you in it for the money, for the fame? Did you feel the raw seductive power of your bare skin? The power to behead men and topple empires? Or do you feel liberated wearing nothing but pearls? I always thought pearls were for the conservative type, but no, you brought them back around, like the liberal woman that you are. Always breaking stereotypes aren’t you? Breaking them and making them!
Well, I know you’re busy suing against the “Cult of the Clitoris” defamation. But, I do hope you write back. Maybe we could get to know each other better. I’ve heard you’ve toured India and have an interest in Indian dance. I could help with that.
Yours Truly,
Shyamala
Overall, I love the tone -- such fabulous snarky attitude! It brings in a lot of information -- on "Vision of Salome," the Cult of the Clitoris lawsuit, Maud Allan touring India -- while still sounding like an inside convo.
ReplyDeleteA few specific comments:
-The dual years are hilarious! Why did you choose 1915?
-Lines I love:
"Part harlot, part orientalist imagination"
"Well, I suppose I would kiss it too if I could sever the head of patriarchy and kiss it goodbye. Death can be sexy if it’s the death of an oppressive regime!"
"The power to behead men and topple empires?"
"Breaking them and making them!"
"I could help with that."
-"you are a master of fantasy": For some reason I’m getting hung up on this phrase. Do you mean that Maud is engaging in fantasizing, or that she is fulfilling other people’s fantasies? Perhaps “You are the master of fulfilling your audience’s fantasies” might be clearer though it’s not as succinct?
-"I feel kind of fatal": What does it mean to feel fatal? Like you’re going to die, or you’re going to be fatal to someone else (like a femme fatale)?
-"John the Baptiste": should be Baptist
-"I really don’t understand the hype": Seems a bit contradictory: you go from admiring/being impressed by Maud to not understanding the hype?
-"Really, though I’ve heard that you lavish your attentions on your female secretary?": Could make a clearer connection between this sentence and the earlier sentences in the paragraph -- it seems to come slightly out of nowhere.
-"I always thought pearls were for the conservative type, but no": love the flipping of the pearl narrative
-"busy suing against the “Cult of the Clitoris” defamation": maybe a tiny bit more context would be helpful?
Overall, it's AWESOME!
I LOVE it.
ReplyDeleteI love the humor.
I love the openness between the layers at some points.
I love the last line.
I almost think the part where you say (not literally) "I hear you are into women" is a place that could go further.... if you are comfortable. I think back to the "Indian women are Yummy" situation from my dissertation, and the possibility of the female spectator who might make an advance.