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Get Well Soon
Unusual docs turn sickness into art
Like most people, I hate admitting it when I'm sick. I hate knuckling under to a virus or a cold and I absolutely loathe having to discuss any form of my own "unwellness" with anyone, especially in the context of my normal capability – i.e.: Calling in sick to work, declarations of sickness ("Don't kiss me, I'm sick"), or having to miss out on something I really wanted to do because I was %#@in' sick. It grinds me.
It's amazing, however, what you learn about yourself during an extended illness. I was reminded of this after a recent bout with what I suspect was mononucleosis. Once you make it through the weakness and frustration, you can often find yourself, unexpectedly, in a place of gratitude – at least that's what happened to me. It would appear that it's also what happened to documentary subjects Bob Flanagan and Kris Carr.
Though their conditions were/are much more serious – Flanagan, a performance artist, died from complications caused by cystic fibrosis in 1996 and Carr, an actress, continues to battle untreatable cancer – their message is the same: Life is right there in front of you; seize, embrace, and relish it – in whatever manifestation it may present itself.
In Kirby Dick's 1997 film, Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist, the artist demonstrates, in shocking detail, the physical ramifications of living with CF. He also demonstrates, in even MORE shocking detail, how he deals with it. Flanagan, a comedian and sexual masochist of the highest order, turned his illness into living art by staging extreme public and private acts of pain endurance. By torturing his body in unimaginable ways (including driving a three-penny nail through the head of his penis), Flanagan took control of his own pain and weakness and found unusual methods to make sense of, and enjoy to the best of his ability, the prison that was his body. Though difficult to watch at times, the film (which includes a fascinating love story) is hilarious and awe-inspiring. I highly, highly recommend it.
It's amazing, however, what you learn about yourself during an extended illness. I was reminded of this after a recent bout with what I suspect was mononucleosis. Once you make it through the weakness and frustration, you can often find yourself, unexpectedly, in a place of gratitude – at least that's what happened to me. It would appear that it's also what happened to documentary subjects Bob Flanagan and Kris Carr.
Though their conditions were/are much more serious – Flanagan, a performance artist, died from complications caused by cystic fibrosis in 1996 and Carr, an actress, continues to battle untreatable cancer – their message is the same: Life is right there in front of you; seize, embrace, and relish it – in whatever manifestation it may present itself.
In Kirby Dick's 1997 film, Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist, the artist demonstrates, in shocking detail, the physical ramifications of living with CF. He also demonstrates, in even MORE shocking detail, how he deals with it. Flanagan, a comedian and sexual masochist of the highest order, turned his illness into living art by staging extreme public and private acts of pain endurance. By torturing his body in unimaginable ways (including driving a three-penny nail through the head of his penis), Flanagan took control of his own pain and weakness and found unusual methods to make sense of, and enjoy to the best of his ability, the prison that was his body. Though difficult to watch at times, the film (which includes a fascinating love story) is hilarious and awe-inspiring. I highly, highly recommend it.
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21:45 EDT, 05.Sep.07