I am still shaking my head over all the credibility issues we have uncovered in the two works we've been studying. While it sounds like a cop-out, I don't have a whole lot more to add here becasue I am trying to save enough to produce that 6-7 page assignment, so I will end with the general statement that despite all the reading we have done, I really have not changed my personal opinions regarding these issues. It has been interesting to examine other viewpoints and listen to others' opinions, but I guess I'm just old and set in my ways--I'm already the little old bitch who lives in a spooky old house on Colerain Avenue and likes nothing better than to turn off the lights and lock the doors and contemplate her own . . . television set.

Dont really have much to say...I'm finding it difficult, yet enjoyable to write this paper simply because i have so much to say. i could write 20 pages! its hard for me to focus only on one issue since these things are all intertwined and one subject bleeds(no pun intended) into another.

I must say I once again enjoyed the discussion in class on Wednesday...I also must say as a side that I look forward to hearing abou the different organizations and what they had to offer during the different groups' visits last week too. Mainly though I wanted to post my message this week regarding our paper on Cunt and Vagina Monlogues...I am choosing to work with a partner on this one mainly because I need someone else to help me brainstorm on some of the topics I am torn between. I think it will be a great assignment from the standpoint that it is very much a writing piece we all could call our own.

I also have issues with Eve's credibility, but I still cannot say that that makes me appreciate the book any less. I still cannot figue out why I like the Vagina Monologues better than Cunt, but I do. I am also working with a partner because I need someone who can actually give some positive analysis of Cunt, I could not do that on my own.

I've really enjoyed our discussions this week, but I still have no idea what I'm going to write this paper on. I don't know if I want to do something about the personal feelings I got while reading Cunt, but I don't know where else to even think of looking.
I just want to say a personal thank you to everyone who comforted me after class on Mon. I really appreciate it and I think that by telling my story I was able to really get past my angry at Cunt and try and see what she had to say. I don't agree with her MONSTER thing because I don't see how violence stops violence.
Going back to the paper though, I was hoping some people would have suggestions, and maybe I can get together on a partnership.

I thought that our class discussion on Wednesday was very helpful because it reminded me not to become lax in doing critical, literary evaluations of Ensler's work. Because The Vagina Monologues has so much personal meaning and significance to me, it was, initially, very difficult to engage in a dissection of all of its faults. But, Dr. Fisanick said something in class which really made me pause; she mentioned that to abstain from being critical in evaluating a work is to show it a lack of respect. That thought has really helped me move past my hesitancy to engage in a critique of this work and move past my personal affections for it to become more scholarly and literary in my criticisms. For my paper, I am thinking about doing some sort of compare/contrast paper regarding the theme of prositution as liberator in these two works. What do you guys think?

I find that there are always going to be criticisms over every work- I mean that is also a part of what we do as students. However, it is easy to point the finger at Muscio and Ensler because they are in a risky position going against the grain and the patriarchal standard. I admire their enthusiasm and hard work they have dedicated to their projects. I think their messages are clear and from re-reading Ensler and Muscio it becomes evident that they are not forcing people to believe everything they say, but they want readers/ viewers to take something from it- whatever it maybe. These pieces are valuable bc if you don't like what they have to say, well then you might be motivated to write your own book on the topic. The best thing a work can do is spark questions and encourage dialogue. Our ways of life and everything we do should not be taken for granted and we should really think as women and as a humanity of women and men, about many of these topics and how they really impact society. Progress is in little steps and it does not necessarily have to be positive or negative. These two women as annoying or problematic as they may be are really doing a service to society and its supposed ideals by writing these pieces.
Oh and Lauren, I think that topic sounds really interesting. It would be a great comparison to spin off of.

Also, I am thinking about doing a paper on the way each of these authors handles the moon and/or blood in general (not really as it relates to menstruation). Muscio refers to it everywhere and it is sporadic in the VMs, but I just wanted to see if this sounded good or not. If anyone has any thoughts, please let me know!

I think that Puja and Lauren have very great ideas for paper topics. I can not say that I have a lot more to offer on the whole credibility issue since my classmates have already said do much over the last couple of days. I do respect what both authors have done by taking such a bold stand and presenting these issues to the public and most importantly, sparking conversations such as these. Perhaps we will all take it one step further and present literature that is informative, credible, and empowering to women. We can view both woks as nothing more than stepping stones. I think that if I had to pick which was more credible, I would pick Cunt only b/c the author does not try to convince us that every thing that she writes is true and unbiased. I have been repeating this over and over but I just can’t get over the way that reproduction was treated in both books. They do child birth no justice. I’ve said this so many times that I may as well right a paper about it.

After all the discussions on VM and Cunt, I really don't have any more to add. I think that it was evident in our discussions that I had a real problem with Cunt and the religios attacks that were made. I also did not like how both authors did not provide or leave room for persons involved in a healthy heterosexual relationship. I am having a hard time deciding on what issue I want to write my paper on.