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A review by jaan
Patient. by Bettina Judd
challenging
slow-paced
5.0
This collection was assigned reading in class today. I was thinking while going through it that a lot of the pieces might have been more suited to spoken word (e.g., GHOSTING, which actually has been produced in auditory format by Judd)—in fact, I was quite frustrated by what I perceived to be the incompatible format. On voicing this, my class read “IN 2006, I HAD AN ORDEAL WITH MEDICINE” together how we interpreted it should be read out loud. I hope I never forget the resulting cacophony. The acknowledgement and compassion I felt from my classmates reaching out to Judd and the women about whom she has written was incredible.
One of my classmates pointed out that my problem—that I felt like something was missing from the collection—was exactly the point. Archives are never complete. They aren’t usually maintained in the most optimal format or state—that kind of respect for the material isn’t everyday. Moreover, the point that Judd is trying to make is that we are missing voices. PATIENT. draws attention to the negative space.
(This was all said much more intelligently today by my peers.)
One of my classmates pointed out that my problem—that I felt like something was missing from the collection—was exactly the point. Archives are never complete. They aren’t usually maintained in the most optimal format or state—that kind of respect for the material isn’t everyday. Moreover, the point that Judd is trying to make is that we are missing voices. PATIENT. draws attention to the negative space.
(This was all said much more intelligently today by my peers.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma and Racism