"It's Not A Hoax!"

Filed under: Icky Icky Poo

abortion.jpg

Aliza Shvarts, in her own words.

"For the past year, I performed repeated self-induced miscarriages. I created a group of fabricators from volunteers who submitted to periodic STD screenings and agreed to their complete and permanent anonymity. From the 9th to the 15th day of my menstrual cycle, the fabricators would provide me with sperm samples, which I used to privately self-inseminate. Using a needleless syringe, I would inject the sperm near my cervix within 30 minutes of its collection, so as to insure the possibility of fertilization. On the 28th day of my cycle, I would ingest an abortifacient, after which I would experience cramps and heavy bleeding.

To protect myself and others, only I know the number of fabricators who participated, the frequency and accuracy with which I inseminated and the specific abortifacient I used. Because of these measures of privacy, the piece exists only in its telling. This telling can take textual, visual, spatial, temporal and performative forms — copies of copies of which there is no original.

This piece — in its textual and sculptural forms — is meant to call into question the relationship between form and function as they converge on the body. The artwork exists as the verbal narrative you see above, as an installation that will take place in Green Hall, as a time-based performance, as a independent concept, as a myth and as a public discourse.

It creates an ambiguity that isolates the locus of ontology to an act of readership. An intentional ambiguity pervades both the act and the objects I produced in relation to it. The performance exists only as I chose to represent it. For me, the most poignant aspect of this representation — the part most meaningful in terms of its political agenda (and, incidentally, the aspect that has not been discussed thus far) — is the impossibility of accurately identifying the resulting blood. Because the miscarriages coincide with the expected date of menstruation (the 28th day of my cycle), it remains ambiguous whether the there was ever a fertilized ovum or not. The reality of the pregnancy, both for myself and for the audience, is a matter of reading.

This ambivalence makes obvious how the act of identification or naming — the act of ascribing a word to something physical — is at its heart an ideological act, an act that literally has the power to construct bodies. In a sense, the act of conception occurs when the viewer assigns the term “miscarriage” or “period” to that blood.

In some sense, neither term is exactly accurate or inaccurate; the ambiguity is not merely a matter of context, but is embodied in the physicality of the object. This central ambiguity defies a clear definition of the act. The reality of miscarriage is very much a linguistic and political reality, an act of reading constructed by an act of naming — an authorial act.

It is the intention of this piece to destabilize the locus of that authorial act, and in doing so, reclaim it from the heteronormative structures that seek to naturalize it.

As an intervention into our normative understanding of “the real” and its accompanying politics of convention, this performance piece has numerous conceptual goals. The first is to assert that often, normative understandings of biological function are a mythology imposed on form. It is this mythology that creates the sexist, racist, ableist, nationalist and homophobic perspective, distinguishing what body parts are “meant” to do from their physical capability. The myth that a certain set of functions are “natural” (while all the other potential functions are “unnatural”) undermines that sense of capability, confining lifestyle choices to the bounds of normatively defined narratives.

Just as it is a myth that women are “meant” to be feminine and men masculine, that penises and vaginas are “meant” for penetrative heterosexual sex (or that mouths, anuses, breasts, feet or leather, silicone, vinyl, rubber, or metal implements are not “meant” for sex at all), it is a myth that ovaries and a uterus are “meant” to birth a child.

When considering my own bodily form, I recognize its potential as extending beyond its ability to participate in a normative function. While my organs are capable of engaging with the narrative of reproduction — the time-based linkage of discrete events from conception to birth — the realm of capability extends beyond the bounds of that specific narrative chain. These organs can do other things, can have other purposes, and it is the prerogative of every individual to acknowledge and explore this wide realm of capability."

    Posted: Apr 18, 2008 at 11:32 am / Email this  »

    672 comments to “"It's Not A Hoax!"”

    More comments: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 »

    1. mary says – reply to this


      1

      Stop posting this stuff about her. She wants the attention and you are giving it to her. Just ignore it!!!

    2. Jen says – reply to this


      2

      wuuaht

    3. A.Green says – reply to this


      3

      Hoebag is effin psycho! I don't know who she is trying to kid; she had no clue what she was doing!

    4. Gere says – reply to this


      4

      She posted an profile on "millionair efriends com". She’s resorted to online dating? Is she looking for true love there?

    5. Disgusting Bitch says – reply to this


      5

      Is it too late to abort her? She's a waste of oxygen!

    6. Jen says – reply to this


      6

      I laugh about ppl who think they are super-intellectual mega-artists but are actually just being ridiculous without noticing…. she's one of these.

    7. Disgusting! says – reply to this


      7

      Stupid stupid attention seeking bitch! This made me feel sick to my stomach reading about her yesterday. Regardless of whether its real of fake, shes put the whole thing out there. You art school bitch, next time you go for your 5 mins, have a think about what your stupid actions could do. I know a couple of women who went through heart breaking miscarraiges and it has scarred them for life. Hope you get lynched, you cold blooded witch.

    8. krustysnaks says – reply to this


      8

      what a load of rubbish

    9. Ejmi says – reply to this


      9

      She's got one hell of a unibrow! Ugly cunt.

    10. la laa says – reply to this


      10

      FIRSTTT ?!?!

    11. SarahLeeSinful.net says – reply to this


      11

      FUCKING DISGUST! I read this post the other day and thought wow! Ugly cow

    12. sexy mama says – reply to this


      12

      Isn't a bit unhealthy to have repeated abortions? She sounds like she maybe needs some counselling, regardless of whether or not her story is true…

    13. me says – reply to this


      13

      wut

    14. Buffy says – reply to this


      14

      What a complete and utter sociopath.

    15. marrissa says – reply to this


      15

      :/

    16. amex says – reply to this


      16

      second. what a bitch.

    17. me says – reply to this


      17

      wtf ok

    18. adriana banana says – reply to this


      18

      She ugly, no attention to her please! Anyways.. ojala que sea la segunda o tercera en comentar, asi para hacerme famosa… lol

    19. chelsea says – reply to this


      19

      what the hell

    20. Can you say 5150? says – reply to this


      20

      What a bunch of gibberish. If she really did what she said, she'll be in a mental ward very soon. Move on to other things, Big Head Mario, and take the spotlight off this deranged woman. She's mental to even FAKE such a heinous act.

    21. Brandi says – reply to this


      21

      She is still a sick bitch!

    22. Sonia says – reply to this


      22

      I agreee with mary. This is what she wanted all along. To be on TV and be a viral news story. Never has that term been more accurate. Please don't talk about this item anymore. She is using all of us.

    23. whateverq says – reply to this


      23

      1st…whatever psycho!!!

    24. STEFF!!!!!!!!! says – reply to this


      24

      GROSS.

    25. me says – reply to this


      25

      Sick…she's definitely sick…

    26. Jewel says – reply to this


      26

      how could she even joke about something like this? so sad.

    27. Sort says – reply to this


      27

      This smacks of fraud. I wouldn't be surprised if it was an elaborate hoax.

    28. lluvia says – reply to this


      28

      first…yay.

    29. Rosita says – reply to this


      29

      She is going straight to Hell

    30. Erin says – reply to this


      30

      This bitch is fucking cookoo!

    31. Amanda says – reply to this


      31

      This Chick has some serious issues…

    32. DAMMIT says – reply to this


      32

      Perez, this has already been proven to be a hoax. This dumb broad is simply an attention whore and you're giving her exactly what she wants. The rest of the internet is over it, but as always, you're late in giving up.

      Oh yeah, is Fidel still dead?

    33. hater says – reply to this


      33

      What a selfish, self-serving asshole.

    34. martina says – reply to this


      34

      first.

    35. joss says – reply to this


      35

      pssyyyccho

    36. tbone says – reply to this


      36

      Shove this self important cunt in a chipper - now that's art!!!

    37. Dancer says – reply to this


      37

      What the effin' HELL???

    38. Jane says – reply to this


      38

      She's a raving lunatic with a sick and twisted mind. Stop posting her rants, all she wants is fame and she is definitely getting it as long as you, and every other news outlet keeps posting her bullshit.

    39. giawhiz says – reply to this


      39

      What the? She should be sterilized!

    40. laquisha shaniqua says – reply to this


      40

      Porque no dejas de escribir sobre esta puta. Joder…deja ya

    41. Catelin says – reply to this


      41

      what a frickin' loser!

    42. wendy says – reply to this


      42

      I want to know how she 'artificially inseminated' herself…thinking turkey baster?

    43. Sucks to be her baby says – reply to this


      43

      I hope she packed the sunscreen because its really hot in HELL!

    44. Kim says – reply to this


      44

      2nd????

    45. cambel says – reply to this


      45

      I weep at the complete intellectual vacuum this shows in our elite universities. Not only did what she said dance around subjects like Michael Flatley, the fact is she could have said the same thing in 2 paragraphs. What you see with her is somebody who is used to having teachers say "Please turn in a 15 page paper by Friday" She only has 9 pages of info but she inflates, repeats, and mixes the wording and language to produce the extra 6 pages. Unfortunatly, after years of doing so she no longer has the ability to express herself any other way. It's sad, I almost feel like I'm reading something written by somebody with Downs Syndrome and a spell checker.

    46. hater too says – reply to this


      46

      may this idiot NEVER reproduce.

      Yeah, I want to send my kids to the ivy league. I hope they turn out just like her.

    47. hello says – reply to this


      47

      Second post.
      I dont even know who the f**k this girl is?

    48. erin says – reply to this


      48

      disgusting

    49. Me says – reply to this


      49

      Wow, this chick is warped.

    50. Daisha Loves Perez says – reply to this


      50

      what a crazy bitch. i hope she permanetly fucks herself up!

    51. No way says – reply to this


      51

      I agree with Mary. She's such an ignoramus! I don't care if she's lying or not. Either way I hope that she really sees the pain she's causing to mothers who have miscarried their babies.

    52. oldfat says – reply to this


      52

      first

    53. v says – reply to this


      53

      first?

    54. C-Bird says – reply to this


      54

      Very well said. Her thesis is thought provoking and challenging to societal norms. I figured an advisor would approve the project being done int he first place for a reason.

    55. ginger says – reply to this


      55

      I bet her parents are proud….What a loser…

      If you want good art listen to good music www.travelliketrains.com

    56. Missy says – reply to this


      56

      WTF?

    57. KC says – reply to this


      57

      well i hope her stay in Hell was worth this.

    58. steve says – reply to this


      58

      FIRST

    59. ana says – reply to this


      59

      Wait, so did she do it?!? I can't read "hippie". Some one please translate!!!!!!

    60. wow.. says – reply to this


      60

      first of all Gere, that's getting extremely annoying.. stop promoting your crap site here.

      second, what was this biyatch blabbing about? im sorry i didn't have my dictionary handy… was she explaining herself or trying to cram as many SAT words in one essay as possible?

    61. jess says – reply to this


      61

      first!
      shes mad

    62. WHAT says – reply to this


      62

      WHAT A PIECE OF SHIT!!!! WHAT IF HER MOTHER DID THAT HER????

    63. TTTTTTTTTTTTKKKKKKKKKKKK says – reply to this


      63

      I understand a damn word she said

    64. maho says – reply to this


      64

      this crazy bastard needs jesus in her heart!! is she that freaking bored??!!! wht the hell is wrong with her i mean seriously go outside and play if youre that freaking bored and youre such a freaking loser!!!go get a makeover you seriously need one!! douchebag!!!!

    65. Sean says – reply to this


      65

      she is pathetic

    66. person says – reply to this


      66

      In other words, she's just really F*cked up.

      So many weirdos out there….

    67. kelli says – reply to this


      67

      wtf?

    68. Casey says – reply to this


      68

      She is an absolute waste of time and AIR!!!!!

    69. orange says – reply to this


      69

      she's insane.

    70. Jessica says – reply to this


      70

      Psycho.

    71. Kim says – reply to this


      71

      she is a fucking no good CUNT!! HOw dare she self induce miscarriages!! I hope that she gets AIDS and dies!!!

    72. l says – reply to this


      72

      Why isn't this on the news?

    73. alicia says – reply to this


      73

      ok first…….

      total freak, who does that.

    74. devan in canada says – reply to this


      74

      SHE'S AN IDIOT….half of what she is saying is lifted directly out of feminist theory textbooks and great lecturers on the ideas of bodily ownership, expression and freedom.

      i've heard all of this stuff before, but with more meaning and sincerity behind it. not just from some girl in leopard shorts and fringy boots trying to be radically female.

      she's just another hack, trying to be original and thought provoking, but instead she has ended up looking like another silly art student with a outrageous idea and no strength to hold it up

    75. cloudsasha says – reply to this


      75

      She is despicable. I would like to drown her in her own menstrual blood.

      Die, Hag!

    76. Stupid Bitch says – reply to this


      76

      She could have gotten her point across simply by stating "I was bored and lonely. Not all this bullshit trying-to-impress-the-reader jargon.

    77. Andee says – reply to this


      77

      I think that she has created a wonderful project. People are just far too reactionary. Take some time to think about the progressive implications of what she is doing, she's a smart girl. And radical in the sense of past revolutionaries of art - sometimes it scares people at first.

    78. Me says – reply to this


      78

      Make sure to take lots of sunscreen and have fun burning in hell!

    79. Cait says – reply to this


      79

      Sick.

    80. PHILPOT says – reply to this


      80

      ummm….yeah….could somebody shut her up please? I'm tired of hearing from her and about her … or anything regaurding her

    81. NEMANJA says – reply to this


      81

      This lady is crazy, not because of what she is doing, but look what she's wearing!? ima throw up. oh dearrr.

    82. no good says – reply to this


      82

      Something bad wil happen to her body. Watch!

    83. cjc says – reply to this


      83

      Totally grossed out!

    84. kate says – reply to this


      84

      this girl is SICK and needs help asap!

    85. {krazihottkelli/btchygrl/krazihouze says – reply to this


      85

      [[[[[[[[[[[[ hey bitch…I hope U get a hold of Satan Sperm]]]]]]]]

      zzz and when u try 2 abort…satan won't let U…zzzzzzzzzzzzz

      [[[[ then the baby/antichrizt ripz out of y'r body ]]]]]]]]]]

      zzz and leavez u lying helplezz/u dizcuzting piece of zhit.zzzzz
      zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
      get her lucifer..zhe
      dezervez U
      zzzzzzzzz

    86. Geez H Christo says – reply to this


      86

      Re: Gere – YOU AND YTHAT WEBSITE YOU ARE WORKING FOR MAKE ME FUCKING MAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    87. piss off says – reply to this


      87

      Re: Gere

      stop changing your name and posting about your shit website. if its that good, read that and stop peddling your shit on perez.

    88. nickey says – reply to this


      88

      i was so bored by reading her post ………. no wonder why she had to come up with such a crazazay story….she is soooooo boring otherwise. yaaaaaawn.

    89. TTTTTTTTTTTTKKKKKKKKKKKK says – reply to this


      89

      It sounds like she is trying to justify what she is doing by using her 'art' as a cover.

    90. viola says – reply to this


      90

      Her body= Her choice…

      I, and countless other women, have aborted by choice and feel no shame.

      I, and countless other women, have miscarried with no choice and also feel no shame.

      Get over it, people.

    91. adriana banana says – reply to this


      91

      HOW FUCKING SAD… This bitch is sick, first of all I don't understand all of the long ass words she is using, but I'm not dumb enough to realize that even though she comes around as really smart, she is the MOST ignorant person I've heard of… I can't believe this bitch, I never damn anyone, but this person deserves to die. Ew, She makes me so fucking sick

    92. megan says – reply to this


      92

      stop posting stuff about her. that's what she wants.

    93. Lucy says – reply to this


      93

      Wow, I didnt think she could make herself look even crazier, but she did.

    94. PHILPOT says – reply to this


      94

      Re: cambel – I AGREE!!!

    95. allie k. says – reply to this


      95

      honestly…what the fuck is wrong with you? for starters, you are possibly the one of the most disgusting ppl i have ever laid eyes on and could your haircut get any more horrible? doubt it.
      if i ever run into you i will probably rap a steel pipe around your head. you are so sick and twisted…. i'm about to 302 you bitch. you need help with your life… but definetely your hair too. the hair needs to go. no wonder you had to artificially inseminate yourself cuz obviosuly no one would stoop low enough to fuck you.

      PS. PEREZ I LOVE YOU, YOUR LOVELY.

    96. candi says – reply to this


      96

      This girl is absolutely duranzed… Crazy. That campus needs to keep her in check and a watchful eye on her. Its crazy people like that that go around hurting others. I'm Pro Life so obviously I disagree with the abortion thing totally but the way she is doing this is disgusting, immoral and sick. She needs psychiatric help and she is definitely mentally unstable. I also agree with Mary. This is an attention seeking media whore and she wants people to think this is art. How is killing an unborn child art. IT MURDER!!!

    97. sarah says – reply to this


      97

      I don't know, how is she any different than Madonna, it's all performance.
      She is because we are….

    98. Disgusted says – reply to this


      98

      You are SICK woman! What you did was sick and sadistic and you are the type of person in this world that need to disappear. I am absolutely appalled. Although it may be a woman's right to choose what happens with her body, under no circumstance should anything happen like what you have done. There's a little thing I like to call karma, you know, what goes around comes around. Enjoy your twisted 15 minutes of shame and I hope shit hits the fan and explodes in your face and covers you so deep that you cannot rid yourself of it. You have no heart. Just because you attend Yale and call yourself an "artist" does not entitle you to such disgusting acts. You should disappear.

    99. ashash says – reply to this


      99

      seriously go die somewhere… your one fucked up woman

    100. sadgirl says – reply to this


      100

      This is very, very sad.
      God be with those unborn children.

    More comments: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 »