Thoughts from my studies of late

."Ah, you're crazy"

"Am I? Or am I so sane that you just blew your MIND?!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmZq3GVagQo

Madness seemed to be a constant theme in my studies this quarter, especially female madness. Bronte's Bertha claws and scratches out of the attic, a foil for Jane Eyre's repressed but growing sexuality. Lady Audley, despite her pure façade of golden locks and a charming smile, commits murder in an attempt to run from her former life. The Yellow Wallpaper follows a 19th century wife as she descends into wall-creeping hysteria. 

Even the etymology of hysteria is intriguing.  It was originally used as a medical term especially referring to women, associated with disturbance of the uterus. In the 19th century it was known as sexual dysfunction. The cure was "pelvic massage"--as if a female orgasm was a release of the dysfunction, an abnormal build-up of madness that needed to be "cured" medically. Talk about sexual repression.

So what is it about being a woman that makes hysteria and madness more pervasive than in men? I think it has it's origins in sexuality--but more specifically, the expectations held for women. To live into a certain role. To be told mixed messages from society.

 Black Swan reinforced this idea for me. Expectations, female roles, sexuality--it was all in there. I really liked seeing that, after reading these 19th century novels, this idea was still relevant in today's society. Also, Maggie Gyllenhaal is coming out with a movie called Hysteria (might be kinda racy though...eh).

Anyways, just some stuff for you to chew on.