The "Word".....brainstorm.

Here are some words that relate to my art:

cynical
sarcastic
funny
witty
serious
loss
alone
crass
conflict
confusion
hiding
surface
glamor
feminism
love
hate
hope
fear
terror
sex
small
dynamic
relationship
personal
beauty
sadness
stress
striving
jaded
wall
defensive
blunt
blatant
open
closed
shocked
deprived
wonder
travel
document
fiction
contradiction

of these words, im sensing contradiction, which feeds directly into my main idea of conflicting psyche. the "i love it, i hate it" of my lifestyle; also, the moral superiority of those around me causing me to question my lifestyle; ALSO, my own body's reactions to my lifestyle (physically). in contradiction, there lies conflict, in conflict there lies walls, within walls, there lies the personal. because of the personal, there is loss and aloneness (the "im the only one who feels this" attitude). in hiding that there is cynicism and sarcasm. the method of doing so is wit, shock, and blunt statement. this is defined as a defense mechanism, a way to keep people away...."if i scare you enough, youll leave me alone".

the word of the day, is either conflict or personal. so what shall it be? you cant have conflict unless you have personal first. without the personal, there is no conflict to be had. the first word is personal.

Personal. Intimate. Private. Individual.

per·son·al [pur-suh-nl]
–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or coming as from a particular person; individual; private: a personal opinion.
2. relating to, directed to, or intended for a particular person: a personal favor; one's personal life; a letter marked “Personal.”
3. intended for use by one person: a personal car.
4. referring or directed to a particular person in a disparaging or offensive sense or manner, usually involving character, behavior, appearance, etc.: personal remarks.
5. making personal remarks or attacks: to become personal in a dispute.
6. done, carried out, held, etc., in person: a personal interview.
7. pertaining to or characteristic of a person or self-conscious being: That is my personal belief.
8. of the nature of an individual rational being.
9. pertaining to the body, clothing, or appearance: personal cleanliness.
10. provided for one's discretionary use: Employees are allowed 15 vacation days and two personal days.
11. Grammar.
a. noting person: In Latin portō “I carry,” -ō is a personal ending.
b. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the personal pronoun.
12. Law. of or pertaining to personal property: personal interests.
–noun
13. Journalism.
a. a short news paragraph in a newspaper concerning a particular person, as one who is socially prominent, or a group of particular persons who are socially prominent.
b. a brief, private notice in a newspaper or magazine, often addressed to a particular person and typically bearing an abbreviated salutation and signature to preserve its confidentiality, usually printed in a special part of the classified advertising section.
c. a similar notice placed by a person seeking companionship, a spouse, etc.
d. Usually, personals. a column, page, or section of a newspaper, magazine, etc., featuring such notices or items.

“Loneliness adds beauty to life. It puts a special burn on sunsets and makes night air smell better.”
“It'll destroy you if you try to make it mean anything to anyone but yourself.”
-Henry Rollins

Artists that deal with the personal:
nan golden
diane arbus
thomas daniel
miranda july
tina barney
larry sultan
philip lorcia di cora
wolfgang tillmans
susan misalas
sally mann
victoria vandyke
christine welch
nobuyoshi araki
niki lee
suntek chung
misty keasler
millee tibbs
tracy emin
ginger anyhow
...it could be argued that many of these artists work with the idea of "identity" and not the "personal". i believe that its important to understand that i view the two as ideas the work hand in hand. you cant have one without the other.