When seeing a scar on a person; particularly a noticeable one in an odd place, I can’t help but wonder about the story behind it. Whether its extremely deep, or just the faintest dot, the impact of the scar is the same. It is always a reminder of some event which either traumatizing, life changing or perhaps just a clumsy moment that would one day make a funny story. Most scars initially involve a trip to the emergency room, a couple of stitches or at least a very serious “I promise to never do it again” talk with one’s parents. My scar however, does not come with such an exciting tale. It didn’t come from a major fall or a pumpkin-carving incident gone wrong. The thin faint scar down the middle of my forehead was simply caused by my infant sister, Gillian. Ironically, though neither of us could have known at the time, we would both grow older to become those sisters whom would under no circumstance be able to get along. At the time, she was my cute baby sister, and being the seven year old tomboy that I was, I thought that the scratch down my forehead was pretty cool. Gillian and I had grown farther apart as we each got older. My mother always liked to peg our indifferences on the fact that we are so alike; stubborn and sarcastic among other traits. I don’t really know why we’ve never seen eye to eye, and in the past couple of years I’ve begun to regret the gap between the two of us, and the idea that she would feel some what left out from the extremely close relationship between my other sister and I. Although we still are not the closest of sisters, things have definitely gotten better as we’ve each grown more mature and begun to grasp the importance of family. Whenever I see that barely there line on my forehead, I am always reminded of my relationship with my sister, and though the mark is still there, it is slowly healing as time passes.
Completing the task set out by Miranda July was unlike any assignment that I have written during my English courses at Dawson. The idea that the writing for this assignment was so personal was the aspect which made it most and appealing to write. It is very rare to come across an assignment in Cegep where one gets to truly express themselves through their school work, as opposed to writing using only fact and analysis. I personally chose to write about a scar on my body. The process of writing this piece was pretty cool, because as opposed to analyzing literature or film, I was actually analyzing a piece of myself. Before reading the proposal of this assignment on Miranda July’s website, I had never spent much time thinking about my scar which I see in the mirror everyday. I had begun to think not only about the physical mark on my forehead, but also about the mark left on me from the cause of that scar. This scar is not only a part of my physical characteristics, but it plays a small role in me as a person. Through expressing the story behind my scar, I gained an understanding about how much of an effect the small things have on a person, and how each tiny event or trait is significant in the entire being of that person. This assignment was extremely thought provoking, as it signifies not only the importance of communicating and sharing a part of you with others, but it also teaches significance of sharing with yourself in order to be true to yourself and see the relevance of your own events and emotions.
Each of the assignments on Miranda July’s website involves a personal journey in order of completing it. Whether it be something simple such as recreating a childhood poster, or something courageous such as taking a picture of a complete stranger, each one requires the person to explore a part of themselves which they may normally not turn to. In order to complete one of Miranda July’s assignments, one must analyze themselves, either through returning to a moment in their past, or even just by thinking about an idea or activity in a different way that they normally may do so. Each one of these assignments also contains a requirement of creativity in order to be completed. I think that one of her main goals through creating her website was to challenge people to think differently about themselves and about others. Each one of these creative tasks ends with a new outlook on others by the person who had completed it. I believe that she wanted people to begin to realize how much each one of us is effected by little acts within our lives, and in turn be challenged to put more effort into simply caring about people outside of our inner circles of family and friends. By communicating with others, we are able to express these ideas as a global message, and perhaps each one would make a difference to another person; even a simple account of a personal event has the power to touch another person. Miranda July’s assignments involve all different art forms such as writing, drawing, music and photography. I think that the tasks which she proposes through different artistic movements stress the importance of communication which she is trying to spread. The major method of communicating to the public is through art, whether is be through a novel or a controversial painting or film. Miranda July is trying to reconceptualize what is counted as art through these assignments as a result of the importance of communication, and wants people to feel free to express themselves through there creativity. It has been said that art imitates life, and one of the most crucial aspects of human life is communication, which Miranda July is challenging humanity to spread through their individual thoughts and experiences.
