Ancestors from 1850 in Conversation!
Let’s put an ancestor of ours from the year 1850 in conversation with one another, in the present, on Twitter.
Why?
To see what happens!
In my current performance project — “What’s on [My] Mind?” — I use an intergenerational persona to transcend time, space, race, class and history in order to understand and engage with myself, others, and this world anew.
How to participate:
Locate an object (a photograph, a letter, a physical object, a memory, a story of a memory, etc.) that connects you with a specific ancestor of yours from 1850. What if you are adopted? You can then choose a historical figure who resonates for you. You may want to examine databases, family heirlooms, stories (or fragments of stories) you’ve heard passed down to you.
After collecting a variety (it doesn’t have to be a lot) of information about this ancestor, wonder about him or her — what her personal issues were, what his societal conflicts were. Then, write a letter from that ancestor/historical figure to yourself: what does he or she want you to know that you could not know without her or his communication with you? What were some of the conflicts she or he faced? How are they reflective of conflicts you currently face or must deal with in your own life in the here and now? What awesomeness were they aware of that they can share with you or gift to you?
On February 28, 2014, we will pull sentences from these letters we’ve crafted (from our past to our present) to tweet out, using the hashtag #1850charla (a charla is the Spanish world for a “chat.”)
Please, enjoy.
Isabella Medici 19:04 on 17/01/2014 Permalink |
What a fantastic project Christa! (anything that gets me out of the catacombs is a fantastic project! 🙂
Could you give this letter to my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter Vanessa? TY!
http://mediciprincess.com/your-shitty-luck
Christa Forster 01:07 on 18/01/2014 Permalink |
Dear Isabella, so GREAT to hear from you. Thank you for reaching out to us from 450 years ago! I think our luck is good (rather than shitty) to hear from you, a PRINCESS no less. I am interested in what you say about how “false nostalgia and blind romanticism always make past lives more simplistic. Easier than they were. Harder than they were. Other.” I’m pretty sure I understand what you mean by “other.” But I’m wondering if you’d like to talk about this more, This “otherness” that you seem to propose is a product/consequence of nostalgia and romanticism.”
If you have other things to deal with (like washing your hair, which I’d totes understand — it’s a DRAG) I get it. Still, since we have you on the line and all….
Oscar 16:38 on 18/01/2014 Permalink |
Hello Christa,
Thank you for your invitation to participate in this project! I’m intrigued by the idea of engaging in conversation with an ancestor. While I have no recollection of my life before 2003 and, currently, no desire to probe my personal history beyond this, I am keen to trace the history of my craft – to tune my ear to the whispers of dolls and their partners long since decomposed…
The 19th century was, by all accounts, a rather busy and exciting time for ventriloquist dolls and their human collaborators!
Isabella Medici 02:55 on 19/01/2014 Permalink |
Hello Oscar. Is it “the marionettes” of which you speak? I loved them so as a child! They were a rich and frequent part of the entertainments that my father arranged at Palazzo PItti.
Dearest Christa, I am confused, “wash your hair”? Do not you simply braid it up and forget about it? As for your questions, I am not certain I have answered them, however I have written another letter that may be of some use:
http://mediciprincess.com/vegetarian/
xtaforster 03:06 on 19/01/2014 Permalink |
Welcome, Oscar!
I love your name. How was this name chosen for you?
I, too, am interested in the history of your race, the traces of races which have marked themselves in your lineage. I cannot wait to learn more about this! Thank you for joining us.
Oscar 21:18 on 19/01/2014 Permalink |
Thank you! This ancestor mining is so much fun, Christa! As to your question re. my name – well, the truth is, I kind of moved into it (it was waiting for me). I find it easy to say, easy to spell, so I consider it a good fit. I used to have a different surname but shed it because it felt uncomfortable and contrived. I’m happier with “Devent” which we created in order to facilitate my online communication (all those demanding forms!). I’ve had a similar conversation on this subject with Ellie here: http://megoryan.me/post/69899480046/oscar-autonomy#disqus_thread