Monday, January 25, 2010

Required for 2/1: The V Generation

Read this short interview with Eve Ensler.

What do you think about Eve Ensler's answers to the interview questions? Just from having read the interview, what can you say about the kind of person Ensler is? What do you think about her idea of using dance to help women deal with rape?

You don't have to answer all of those questions, or any of them really, but you do have to provide a meaningful reaction to the linked interview.

44 comments:

  1. After reading Eve Ensler's interview I believe that she is a very interesting and complex woman. She seems to have her mind set on what she believes. She has solid beliefs on how she can make a difference in the world, and she is doing everything in her power to make not only a difference in the lives of women, but also to make a powerful statement. She comes off as an extremely bold and confident woman.

    As a former dancer, I definitely believe in her idea of using dance as a method of therapy for women who have been raped. It is a very powerful way to express your feelings and emotions. Dance is not something that can be "right" or "wrong" it is simply your own way of expressing how you are feeling at that very moment. I think that it would be an extremely theraputic excersise for most if not all rape victims.

    I also love her comment at the end about being able to change a lightbulb without the help of a man. It truly shows how confident and powerful she is!
    -Heather Gaulke

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  3. I think Eve Ensler answer to most of the questions were awesome! I saw a lot of confidence, control, sense of humor, and her love for girls in her answers. As far as using dance to help rape victims I think it's a good idea. I am currently a dancer now, and any time I'm dealing with something I can't do anything about, I dance it off. Dance allows you to release anger, happiness, sadness, agony, and more inner feelings. I really respect Eve for stepping out and trying to help women. I've notice that she has a positive attitude in the interview too. One answer that stood out to me was when the interviewer asked about a vulture and Eve said that they are good too because they clean up the dead.
    I love Eve's ideas, and I personally think that as long as she keeps her positivity and motivation, then she can do well and many of the girls will benefit from it.
    Lastly, I can't forget the last answer to her question about how she can change a light bulb herself. ..Two words …Controlling feminist. Now that’s what I like to hear.
    Katherine Hallmon

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  4. I think Eve Ensler is a good example of an independent woman I agree with heather on the light bulb quote. I thought it was interesting how she showed she did not need a man around the house to do things for her, this shows she has control. I loved all of her responses she really showed how passionate she was about her work. I think the fact that she uses dance as a way for rape victims to cope is wonderful. I am also a former dancer and dance is all about expressing how you feel, it helps relieve so much stress you may have. Dance is also a form of art that the girls can share with others to make them feel better about themselves and give them back confidence they may have lost after the rape incident. Eve Ensler in my opinion is a great role model for not only young girls, but all women in general. (Erica Jones)

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  5. I <3 Eva Ensler, she seems like such a cool chick. Very fun and humorous as well. All of her answers in the interview had the underlining them of her being an independant woman who doesn't really need a man to complete her, which is great. She's seems like a woman who is very much passionite about her work and what she does. As far as the fact that she uses dance as a means to help rape victims I think that's such a great idea. How often in our society have you heard of Rape meetings and hotlines. ALL OF THE TIME. But not one time have I heard of people dancing a means to help them get over something harsch that has affected there life. It's creative and it's smart. Eva you rock!!!

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  6. I think she sounds like a very confident and secure person. I like that she made the comment about changing the light bulb because that shows that women are capable of doing stuff around the house too. I also agree with her idea about the dancing. I think you can show a lot of different emotions through dance and I think that it also lets you relieve a lot of those emotions. Dancing is also good for your body and health and when you have better health it allows you to be a healthier and happier person as a whole.
    -Kelsey Nichols

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  7. It seems to me that exercise and group settings could help most if not all rape victims. The special thing about dance is that you can't really do it wrong. It also allows you to become very intimate with your body, its desires and strengths. I think it is possibly the best choice for therapy for many women.

    Eve is obviously an intelligent, energetic, artistic, and passionate woman. I would like to hang-out with her. I'm sure she has much more to say than can fit in a little interview.
    -Kelsey Yoder

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  8. From reading this I believe that Eve Ensler is a very independent person. She knows what she wants and also knows what she believes in. All of the answers to her questions showed that she knew what she was talking about, and had no problem telling them how she felt. She is bold yet suttle in her answers.

    I loved the comment she made at the end about being able to change a ligh bulb...shows her humor and intelligence.

    I don't know a lot about dance, but from haveing 2 dance classes here at Western I do know that dancing helps you release stress and other things that weigh you down. When you are dancing, that is all you are thinking about. Therefore, "I do believe that dancing could be used as some sort of therapy for rape victoms. -Ashley Kimbro

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  9. At first I read the entire interview, then skimmed it over a few more times. My first thought was "half of these questions have nothing to do with the Vagina Monologues." There were many personal questions about her, thought. They way she answed them made me think she is an extremely independent woman who knows she can be happy and content without a male figure in her life. I learned she loves to travel and not stay in one place for too long. I think dancing would be a different kind of therapy for those who have been raped, yet I am not sure it will help. It could take their mind of the trauma they have went through, but I do not think it will help them to deal with what happened, or to accept it.
    -Brianna Hund

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  10. I have to disagree with Brianna about the dancing not helping them to deal with what happened to them. There are so many ways to go with dancing and the way you dance expresses how you feel and lets you let your emotions out. The victims will not forget what happened, but I think if they continue dancing and keep with it for a while, it may help tremendously.
    I thought Eve Ensler's answers to the questions were very serious, but yet humorous. Ensler seems so independent, smart, serious, humorous, and bold. From the interview it sounds like Eve is very serious about her work and has a lot of passion while doing it. Obviously, if she set up the V-Day foundation she must have a lot of passion, but I like how she thinks of it as a movement, not a foundation. I also like the part of the interview where she said, "Thanks for putting my age right out there!" That shows me that age is the least of her worries and she is really concentrated on making changes.
    Helping the rape victims learn to release their feelings through dance, is very interesting and creative, especially for therapy. I used to be involved with dance when I was in junior high. I never thought of it as a way to relieve stress or let my emotions out. The more I think back though, I used to dance how I wanted to based on what I was feeling like that day. As someone else stated, there is no wrong or right way to dance, it's about how you want to dance.
    Mary Buss

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  11. I think Eve did very well with the interview. It is sometimes hard to answer some different questions that you weren't expecting. She seems to be a very strong and confident woman. Eve knows what she wants and I believe she can get it as long as she keeps going for it. Also, she is very independent, it's nice to hear of an older woman who is truly happy with her life without a man in it.

    Dance is a form of expression and some people don't like to talk about what has happened to them right away so I think dance will help these women become more confident and happy again. As long as they express themselves I believe this method should work. I am not sure if dance will make them leaders to end the war but you can only hope for the best.
    -Kristin Frondal

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  12. Personally, I think she's a strange woman. I will never understand why the vagina has to be an object of positivity or the center of a monologue or production. If they had a monologue about men would it be called the penis monologues?

    On another note, I support the use of dance to help victims of violence. Dance is a beautiful way to express oneself, regardless if you may be good at it or not. It's a form of art and expression that cleanses the soul. I did get a kick out of her saying that she could change a light bulb all by herself. She seems well put together and knows what she wants.

    --Jackie Hund

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  13. I wonder if we encounter the "penis monologues" daily-- if not literally, then figuratively.

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  14. AFter reading the interview about Eve Ensler it seems like she is set on what she believes and really thinks that she can help the world in her own way. She also seems like she could be a very powerful person that poeople look up to.

    I think that I could actually agree with Eve with dancing helping women out with their problems. I love to dance and when I do I feel on top of the world and really good about myself.
    -Jaleesa Burton

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  15. After reading this article my first reaction would be WOW. Eve Ensler has a dream to make this world for women especially, a truly better, and safe place. Our society has taught women to take up less and less space, just look at our actresses in the media and how skinny they are. But men are allowed to have a greater deal of space because this symbolizes power. Eve wants women to be heard and have power again after something traumatic happens to them. This is why she has the Vagina Monologues to get this point across all around the world: that women are powerful individuals too. For Eve to have a place where women can go after their raped and everything is paid for is amazing and so thoughtful. I believe Eve Ensler is an independent and strong woman. I also agree with Heather that I liked how she said in the article that she does not need a man to help her change a light bulb. News flash most women I know, know how to change their own light bulbs!
    -Alexa Stel

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  16. Since I have seen the Vagina Monologues, I can see a lot of Eve Ensler's personality and perspective in the play. After reading her interview, I can see how powerful and strong she is and how that translates onto paper in the Vagina Monologues. I love how she travels and never stays tied down in one place. She understands herself so well and really shows confidence. I think this can really inspire women to appreciate themsevles a little more.
    -Lindsay Hummel

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  17. From reading the interview I believe Eve Ensler is a very strong willed and confident women. She is showing that women are independent and can do the same things as men. I love how she is so confident and comfortable with not needing a man around the house. Its's telling a lot about her character and confidence. Eve setting up V-Day proves she is a very strong willed and confident women. She is putting her ideas etc out there and not caring if some people don't like them. I believe that Eve is right about how dancing can help a rape victim. Its something you can do whether your'e good at it or not. It's something you can just get focused on and not think about anything. I know that women who have been raped don't want to talk about it right away if at all, and everyone needs a way to cope with something tramatic.

    Samantha Cale

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  18. I feel that Eve Ensler comes across as a very confident, smart, and honest person. She answers the questions matter-of-factly and provides sufficent information. I like that Eve is not looking for security, what she really wants is change. This shows how determined and strong of a woman she is. Most women in today's society settle. She is trying to break that mold and spread her message.
    Vickie Wilkin

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  19. Eve Ensler is a very strong and confident woman. She is not afraid to be alone and does not need a man to complete her life. I think it's very cool that she travels to different places, like Congo, and helps women. The thought that dancing will help a woman who has been raped or abused never crossed my mind. Now that I think about it, I believe this is an excellent want to let go of what happened to these women in the past. When women are raped they usually fear intimate connections and do not like physical attention. By dancing, these women are learning to love their body and feel like they can express how they feel through their movements. Women who have been under stress like that need someone to look up to, and I think Eve is a great woman to look up to.
    -Jesica Perrone

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  20. I have been a huge follower of Eve Ensler for years and years now, and you can always see her beautiful mind supported by confidence whenever she speaks. However, there is one thing that I especially admire about her in this interview - her hope to help women across the globe.

    Her new monologues concur issues of teenager girls, young women, and preteens of various cultures. She writes to open up the eyes of the world. And even though they are fictional, her writings are so genuine, so honest, so real, that women and the men that support them can relate to a specific monologue whether it be a cold, hurtful memory or a joyous time. The monologues give a voice to the women of the world and the opportunity to be heard.

    I admire Eve greatly.

    -Kelly Keating

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  21. Eve Ensler seems like she is a very strong outgoing woman. In her interview she has a sense of tone where she doesn't really need a man in her life. I liked when she remarked on how she can change a light bulb on her own, she doesn't need a man to help her with that. I also like how she uses dance as a way for rapped victims to release their emotions. I strongly agree with her on that. Ensler seems like a woman that knows what she wants and goes for it. She doesn't need a man to complete her in any shape or form. She is a strong willed woman and by reading the interview I got the vibe that she stands by what she believes in and wants other women to stand up for themselves. I think Ensler is a very good role model for women of all ages.
    -Rachel Sitter

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  22. After reading the interview I thought Eve Ensler came across as a very smart and sophisticated woman. Her answers were clever and intelligent. She thinks that most problems are based on self-esteem and not public or economic issues, which is very true. Also, her idea of dancing to get over rape was interesting. I don't know how much it would actually work but it sounds like something people should try. Ensler sounds like a free spirit, and someone who is very open to say things that a lot of women might be shy to bring up. I also liked her statement at the end about being perfectly capable to change a lightbulb by herself, and not needing to rely on a men. As she throws out there..she is just after good sex.

    -Emily Ridyard

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  23. Eve Ensler is a woman who is not afraid to push the envelope and go against the norm. My first impression of her is that she is a very progressive- minded individual. She definitely is not coy as women have traditionally been expected to be. I like the fact that she brought up the idea that women have to force people to listen to them because women don't naturally get the same repect as men. Her contributions to Feminist and women in general through her writings, plays; etc are invaluable!
    - Krystal James

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  25. Eve Ensler projects herself as a strong and confident woman who is working to help women gain the respect they deserve. I enjoyed her theory on rape victims dancing away there pent up anger and sorrow. I feel that dancing would be a great way to release the negativity that rape victims may still be harboring, and would give them a positive outlook on dancing as well as their bodies. I think that its great that Eve is so vocal, and is trying to help the female gender.

    -Alyssa Hansen

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  26. I believe that Eve Ensler is a very strong individual, who is not afraid to express herself and live outside of what society considers to be normal. I feel she speaks up for victims in a very professional manner and can devour whatever is thrown her way. The program she has established using dance as a method of therapy for rape victims is very creative and well thought about. I give the interview a two thumbs up and I think if most people stood up for what is right and get the message out there that there is help and people who care, society would be a better place.

    -Croshana Floyd

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  27. I think Eva is a really down to earth, independant, strong woman. She is so straight forward and isn't afraid to say what she thinks. She is really caring and wants to help all women who have been mistreated or raped. I think she is right about using dance to help rape victims because it will give them a chance to let loose and be themselves.
    ~Rosie Oberth~

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  28. The Vagina Monologues represent what women experience in terms of sexual violence, with the exception of a couple of skits. This interview seems to match her personality to that of TVM. The best line is "vultures serve a positive function, they clean up the dead". I like how she sees the purpose in everything. Her ideas are grandiose and doable at the same time. Her impact is apparent, TVM is in 130 countries. Like Eve says, it's not a foundation, it's a movement. Using dance as a form of therapy in The City of Joy is a fantastic way to express the anger, rage, and fear of which they have experienced. She says she's a nomad, which in a sense aren't we all? It's our journey alone, right? Yet we need each other to make that trip alone; ironic. Overall I like Eve Ensler and believe she is an agent of change for women's rights.

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  29. I have always loved Eve very much and I was happy to hear she has a whole new show coming out.

    This interview just made me love her even more. For some reason the vibe of the interviewer was really weird. The questions that were asked and how they were asked were really rude almost. I kind of expected her to snap back, but she didn't! She had humor and intellect in answering her questions.

    Several people above have already comented on how independent and strong she is and I couldn't agree more. She's a great vessel for all women.
    -Cara DeMarlie

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  32. After reading the interview, It really helped explain what the Vagina Monologue is.. I'm a freshmen and I haven't really heard that much, if anything about it. All I knew was that it was a requirement to go to for Women's Studies. But now I know what it really is; it's a women's movement. It serves a purpose and Eva Ensler strongly agrees and supports the purpose. It makes me wonder if she has experienced some sort of sexual violence or someone close to her has; I'm really excited to see TVM now.
    - Courtney Dennis

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  33. I think that this interview shows what a strong person that Eve is. I do not know much about her, but it is shown threw the answers to the questions that she is a very passionate individual. I also think that the way she answered the questions helps a reader who does not know too much about her or the vagina monologues get a sense of what it is all about. I think that the idea of using dance for rape victims is an amazing idea. I know from when I use to dance how much of a freeing, or therapeutic, feeling that you can get from it. The work that Eve is doing in the Congo is such positive work and I am defiantly interested in learning more about it and more about her.
    ~Rebecca Dudzinski

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  34. I had no idea who Eve Ensler was until I read this interview. After reading it, I believe that Eve Ensler is a very independent and interesting women. I liked how she responded to the questions being asked. She seems to know who she truly is and she seems to have so much passion for her work. I like how her attitude is very independent and she seems bold, she seems like the kind of women who would not put up with any non sense. I think it is awesome how she has a program for rape victims to express their feelings through dance. That would be a creative way express what they feel and get many negative feelings out. I think Eve Ensler is a very strong and unique women and we need more people like her in this world. -Taylor McDonald

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  35. I feel that Eve Ensler is a strong and powerful woman who cares about women alot!! She wants women to have that freedom to be heard and to voice how they feel about things!! She wants women to have the opportunity to release hurt and pain through dancing!! She wants women to become stronger and more confident within themselves. Ensler is 54 years old and still fighting for teenagers like ourselves. She wants women to feel appreciated and she wants them knowning they are beautiful. She spreading her V-Day movement throughout the world and that goes to show that she runs after whatever it is she wants and thats what she want other women to do just as herself.

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  36. I forgot to sign my name after my comment.

    -Denisha L. Price

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  37. I had never heard about Eve Ensler until I read this article about her. I enjoyed reading it because in the last statement she said, "I’m fully capable of changing a light bulb all by myself." By saying this, she earned much of my respect because she is confident enough in herself to state this. It's good to see a woman director and not just a woman but a very successful one at that.

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  38. I forgot to sign my name above.
    -Molly McWard

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  39. I feel Eve Ensler is a woman who truely cares about the feelings and experiences of other women. She is real and very confidant in herself and wants to translate that for other women, teens and young girls. As far as her dance therapy for victims of rape i think it is a great oppertunity to be creative and physically expressive after experiencing such a negative physical experience. I know a lot of people that are dancers and they always talk about getting emotions out and feeling their most alive when they are dancing. I think that Eve Ensler is a powerful confidant woman and although she is 54 years old there is still so much good she can do to help her positive and strong attitude have an effect on many generations of women, now and in the future.
    -Jennifer Rose

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  40. I also had never heard of Eve Ensler but after reading this I cant believe I have not. She is a very successful woman, I think she is a great role model for women. She is obviously a lady that really knows what she wants in life. I like the fact that she is not about having the traditional life of just settling down and getting married. She says she is a nomad and that she spends a lot of time in many different places in the world which I think is really cool, I would love to do that. One can tell just by reading this interview that she is very confident and cares a lot about women. I thought is pretty cool to see a woman that successful be so confident and know exactly who she is. Many times famous people or successful people lose sight of who they are but she seems to have everything straight in her life.

    -Ben Schneider

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  41. I really enjoyed reading about Eve Ensler, it is quite clear that she knows who she is as an individule and what she wants in life. From what I have read I really admire her for that. I think we need more strong women like Eve as role models showing that it is possible to be single and happy in life! I enjoyed her responce to the question in regaurds to missing having a man around to grab tings from the basement and doing the heavy lifting. She replyed that she is quite capable to change a light bulb, who knew! She has a great sense of humor and to her it is laughable that some feel they need to be in a relationship in order to be complete. I am thrilled that I am now aware of Eve Ensler and can not fallow her my self.
    Kara Flower

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  42. with this interview i was introduced to a stong women who is proud of being who she is and independent. Thourout the writting she gives strong and unique responses that seperates her from the rest of us. I feel that she is doing a great deed of letting women tell there stories because that truly is a right that we as women have earned. As a women she seems to be one that i could get along with because i would no that she would be there to support me no matter what i was dealing with. And with the dancing aspect i feel that creative outlets are always the way to go because they truly do cleanse the body and soul
    -Ashley Merchant

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  43. Overall, I really enjoyed reading about her in this article. I firmly believe in her way of using dance to release trauma. I like what Jennifer (above) said about this. She says that dance is a good way to relieve that tension because it is a positive physical way and rape is a very negative physical thing. I also like Eve Ensler's ability to laugh and poke fun at the jokes they asked her. She's quite creative and an individual for thinking of all these ideas other people might not have. She seems to go outside the boundaries about what people think about feminists because she has a sense of humor and seems laid back. I like her best because she has dreams and is willing to implement them

    -Liz Leonard

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  44. When reading the interview on Eve Ensler, I found that this lady was strong and confident and she's using these skills to help every other women out their to open up and see that we all could be just as confident and powerful if we put some effort into it. She's a good romodel to young girls that are at the age where they are confused and looking up to women to show them the way. She shows us that its really ok to be single that you dont have to have men to make you happy or to get through the day. She's trying to get through to the younger generation to be confident and keep the power that they could have. I also though the dancing to get over rape was very interesting. I never though that dancing would have that big of an impact on something like rape. I think she a really good lady and what shes doing is a great thing.
    - Jennifer Nicol

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