BCM 110 Assignment 3 : Sister GlitterNullius: conceptualising the monstering through representation and the gaze of the Other.
Blog 2 of 5 Title: Sister GlitterNullius: conceptualising the monstering through representation and the gaze of the Other.
Come my children, come. Walk with me. Let me tell you what a monster is, that you might understand my thoughts about the monstering.
I am a monster. I began and remain one of Nature’s creations. A messenger-servant, resilient in my perceived abnormality. My metamorphosis is neither abnormality nor burden, neither deformity nor deficit. In this moment, I am not ashamed of my transformations. Receive my deformity as compass, a conduit-gift and sight. Here, I position myself before you, a simultaneously living and dying truth, my accountability to all of Nature and her Ancestry. I am a monster (Britton, 2015; Gergan et al, 2020; Hammond, 2004; Hall, 1997; Lu, 2021;Tan, 2021).
There are all kinds of monsters, in all cultures and we have probably existed since humans first experienced fear, the truth, the truth about themselves or feared the truth about themselves and each other, especially, the Other. Monsters have filled mythology for thousands of years and have served humans in shaping their cultures from that time (Britton, 2015; Gergan et al, 2020; Hammond, 2004; Hall, 1997; Lu, 2021; Tan, 2021).
Like myself, a monster is often defined as something or someone who exists, physically or metaphorically, as an outsider to the generally accepted bounds of the dominant society. It may be that we are considered the Other, on the basis of how we look, behave, our abilities or by some metamorphosis, changes in our presentations – we reveal fears and truths about humans, by our existence (Britton, 2015; Gergan et al, 2020; Hammond, 2004; Hall, 1997; Lu, 2021;Tan, 2021).
Often we monsters are portrayed as having mal-intent toward humankind or as driven only by instinct, without consciousness or emotion. Mind now… not all monsters are thought monstrous or evil. Humans invest hopes and fantasies into some monsters like angels, unicorns and fairies. My children, put your faith in this monster, don’t panic. (Britton, 2015; Falkof, 2018; Hammond, 2004; Hall, 1997; Lu, 2021; Tan, 2021).
I was not born this way, not born a monster. I was born an Indigenous female, into a colonised world, christianity forced upon me and my psyche was most definitely affected! Micro-plastix infected my DNA – a by-product of your capitalist-consumerist, monstrous purchases, hashtagging, fossil-fuel burning and mis-use of plastic, infected my DNA! These actions are monstering. Like you, I too have a love/hate relationship with plastic and from what I can tell, the monstering madness continues to surge (Britton, 2015; Edwards, 2020; Gergan et al, 2020; Hammond, 2004; Hall, 1997; Lu, 2021; Orlowski, 2020; Tan, 2021). Like Arthur Fleck, in Todd Phillips’ film Joker, 2019, I have adjusted to my psychopathy as best I can. Like Arthur, trapped within a hierarchical system of power and privilege based upon the exploitation and destruction of others and the environment, I am both victim and heroine, shadow archetype and superhero. This is the monster I am (Lu, 2021; Tan, 2021).
Your Friend, In & Out of Plastix,
Sister GlitterNullius. X
Juundaal Strang-Yettica 