Final Piece Collaboration Mind Map
Robert Browning: My Last Duchess and Porphyria's Lover Analysis
CATARINA: I was struck by the differences and similarities between these two poems by Robert Browning.
The poems seem like polar opposites at first as Porphyria's Lover regards the story of an ill-minded man that murders his lover with her own hair in order to preserve her love towards him forever; My Last Duchess refers to the dramatic monologue of the Duke of Ferrara as he talks about his late wife, who had passed recently. The poem escalates quickly into the narrator obsessing over the wife's flirting behavior and he uses phrases such as "spot of joy" to describe her blushing towards other men. His jealous and controlling behaviour is very similar to the narrator's in Porphyria's Lover as his selfish mannerisms made him choke his lover until the moment was his forever to keep.
They both use the concept of blushing as a way of implying beauty and youth to the women, although in Porphyria's Lover, the blushing is caused by his choking and murder.
My Last Duchess extract on blushing:
"Sir, ’twas not / Her husband’s presence only, called that spot / Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek"
Porphyria's Lover extract on blushing:
"And I untightened next the tress / About her neck; her cheek once more / Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss"
ELLA: Prior to our collaboration I analyzed Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess"; depicting a jealous ridden Duke who orders his wife to be killed due to her 'suggesting manor'; "Blushing" and attracting the attention of other males. Robert Browning suggests the attraction of other males to cause the duchess' "spot of joy". The poem suggests themes of female submissions. and Male dominance."All smiles stropped" suggests the dukes internet feelings of jealously led him to kill his wife. This poem gives me insight into the historical acts of love, submission, and celibacy.
Visually researching together
ELLA: Together we watched the film Colette; educating ourselves on the repressive history of 'sodomy'.
The biographical drama entails the boundary-pushing life of the writer Colette, a provocative character; enduring affairs and relationships with women. I found this film particularly useful towards my project as it explores the historical outlook towards same-sex relationships whilst providing huge inspiration for how 'female friendships' were recognized and portrayed. Once more I believe it's important to recognize the determination of historical figures rebelling against societal rules.
CATARINA: Watching this film was an insightful experience as it made me wonder about what it meant to be provocative before and now. All throughout Colette's life, a woman wasn't allowed to be sexually liberated, even less if she was with other women, although the sapphic fetish was popular in her books, people would show their disgust in real life. The controlling environment which she was bound to, didn't stop her from being in relationships with the women whom she loved and satisfied her.
I felt grateful to live in a society that is much more accepting of the gay community and for this project, I'll push the boundaries of what it means to be provocative in this day and age, in honor of Colette.
Tension
Love Letters by François Boucher, 1750
Heaven and Hell by Andres Serrano, 1984
Ella: Both of our projects explore the concept of tension. I am identifying the underlying tension between women within rococo Art. I am using my historical knowledge to assume the tension created. Using repressed feelings of sexuality to fund my research.
CATARINA: I explore the concept of tension through the teasing of the female hymen and other sexual acts that connote to the tension, suspension and restraint of the female body, such as bondage.
Showing affection through tokenism
Analysing the colour palette:
Anne Lister's locket containing the pubic hair of her lover Ann Walker.
ELLA: Prior to our collaboration, I researched into Anne Lister's revolutionary history, in particular how she secretly projected intense acts of affection. I find it hard to adjust to the suppressing environment that Miss Lister had to endure. I wouldn't be able to conceal my profound feelings.
I can make the assumption that, that is why Miss Lister manifested her love through such unusual method:
Due to societal restraints she could not outwardly project her feelings , so through tokenism she explored an underground system of romance. I can make a connection between the enclosing manner of a lock and secretive behaviour they had to endure.
Extracts from Anne Lister's Coded Diary, 1832:
"She cut the hair from her own queer & I that from mine, which she put into each of the little lockets we got at Bright’s this morning, twelve shillings each, for us always to wear under our clothes in mutual remembrance. We both kissed each bit of hair before it was put into the locket"
[Ann] also promises me a lock of queer’s hair in the morning – and I am to cut it myself if I like! We fretted ourselves to sleep last night – she lay on me as usual to warm her stomach & then lay in my arms – but I was perfectly quiet & never touched her queer. Just before getting up, I got scissors – took up her night-chemise & attempted to cut the lock, but kissed her queer – gave her the scissors – said she must cut it for me herself – & threw myself into the great chair. She soon gave me the golden lock – threw herself on the chair by me. We wept (& kissed).
ELLA: My project gives an insight into historical romanticism; acts of affection. I want to question whether the emphasis on 'being romantic' has the same significance nowadays. Therefore I proposed an experiment in which we apply aspects of 18th-century courtship to our daily life. I want to play the narrative through female congression.
I propose we play the narrative of Anne Lister and wear a locket of each other's hair.
I am not expecting huge results, in fact, we may not receive any. However, I would like to document any feelings and emotions tied to this experiment. I predict we may feel comforted by each others presence even though we are not together. This may be a sustainable reminder of each other.
CATARINA: Through this experiment, I am hoping to explore the romantic side of my project further as the hair locket could be a passionate reminder of her. Secondly, it could be an effective way to explore tension in sex through the pulling of hair.
Introduction to Collaboration
We wanted to use emotions stimulated from our individual projects to broadcast our collaborative message of deep affection and liberation.
We have a connection which we want to portray though collaborative work by showing the romance of multidisciplinary research and experimentation.
We noticed similarities within our own projects as we were both depicting an ode to each other. Therefore we want to use this intense emotion to our advantage and explore different areas of our relationship.
CATARINA: My individual project revolves around the sexual side of female relationships, more specifically our relationship and my first sexual experience with Ella. I want my experimentation process to surround the societal term "popping your cherry" and the various avenues that the concept will take me such as bondage and masochism.
ELLA: My individual project explores the romanticism and subtly within female friendships, understanding the historical placement of women. I want to experience the tension between these "friendships" using Rococo art as a medium for exploration.