I don’t want to speak for others. . . but I think a lot of the “this is dumb” responses are coming from people who would probably say that lots of performance art is dumb. I think that’s one of the compelling—but also distressing?—parts about this. . . .it’s hard to disentangle one’s regular aesthetic judgments from…

I disagree with you somewhat. . . . I DO think that people who dismiss it outright are erred. But, at the same time, I am someone who thought it was “bizarre,” I am also a rape victim, am also a supporter of creative expression, am politically active, and I recognize that every rape is different, and I think E.S. is a…

I think this is a REALLY good point. . . Like, excellent. I hadn’t even realized there was a comment section on this piece.

Yeah. . . . but I think I might only be thinking about it so much because I care about sexual assault and typically dislike performance art. . . . .but also dislike making categorical judgments about good vs. bad art. . . .so, while I agree with you that it’s really, really good if this serves as a piece to get people…

I would like to edit this to say thank you to all of those who are more informed about art than I am—The use of French seems justified in this case (not that I am one to judge)—and I think it is a clever title.

thank you!

Thank you for the tip on the French! It makes completely makes sense thematically and I retract my snark.

ahhhh, okay, that makes total sense. Thanks!

Also, I really don’t want to be on the attack here. . but the author of this jezebel piece is the same author who blogged about Amy Pascal’s amazon shopping list (which was a huge invasion of a woman’s privacy &, I think, integrity). . . .

Yeah, I tend to agree. . . . it’s REALLY hard for me to separate the following feelings: 1) What do *I* like as art (and usually feel totally comfortable dismissing as crappy if I don’t like it)?, 2) What do I think is good political art?, 3) What do I think is the right path for discussions about “rape culture” to…

No one determined she had not been raped.

I am so confused right now. Let me say, first, that I think Ms. Sulkowicz is an extremely brave young woman. And, also, I suppose, that I am reacting to this as a rape victim.

I’m curious about the use of “transsexual” rather than “transgender” in this article. . . . Genuinely curious. Is there a reason why transsexual would be a more appropriate term here?

Oh man, now Sarah Palin is in the fray. . . . .talking about how Lena Dunham is a bigger problem than Josh Duggar. . . .

Here’s one gigantic point everyone in team-Duggar seems to be missing: this whole business amounts to heinous child abuse both because of the abuse itself AND the cover-up.

And don’t forget: it’s only molestation if you perform the action and you’re over 16. Not when you’re 15.

Yeah, it seems like the dynamic he was describing was a nuanced situation between two actors—and probably something that frequently occurs within the specifics of this profession. Nothing to do with her as a person—or even her abilities as an actress—and everything to do with the dynamics of the characterizations.

Oh man, I feel badly for both of them. . . . .

Terri Gross is considered one of the best interviewers out there. . . .and her show is on NPR. I couldn’t believe she pulled that numb-skull move.

I am dismayed by so many of the reactions to the father’s action of cutting his daughter’s hair. Many are claiming that the action itself does not constitute abuse—and that only the act of publicizing it constitutes abuse.