Comments on: Journeying through the Imagination with Robin Schwartz http://thesisterproject.com/smith/journeying-through-the-imagination-with-robin-schwartz/ Anastasia Smith: 24, sisterless and searching. Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:48:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: kcs http://thesisterproject.com/smith/journeying-through-the-imagination-with-robin-schwartz/comment-page-1/#comment-546 kcs Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:38:50 +0000 http://thesisterproject.com/smith/?p=2334#comment-546 ooh. Me likey.. I definitely agree that there's something obsure about the style of these photos. Although, I'd gladly take part in posing for the camera among these animals (even the hairless rat... i mean cat). ooh. Me likey.. I definitely agree that there’s something obsure about the style of these photos. Although, I’d gladly take part in posing for the camera among these animals (even the hairless rat… i mean cat).

]]> By: Anastasia http://thesisterproject.com/smith/journeying-through-the-imagination-with-robin-schwartz/comment-page-1/#comment-545 Anastasia Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:13:34 +0000 http://thesisterproject.com/smith/?p=2334#comment-545 Arielle - good point. Perhaps my wording of "lack of early playmates" was clumsy. It was the artist herself that drew a connection between imaginative journeys and being an only child. I didn't mean to imply that those without children wander in a world of their own making due to loneliness--I was just interested in the relationship to imagination and identity (more specifically, family identity) since Robin Schwartz seems to think there is a connection, as both an only child and a mother to an only child. Obviously, this isn't an essential trait of only children, as you've pointed out, but rather one woman's perspective on being an only child. Being that this is a blog about siblinghood, I wanted to investigate her ideas on siblings (in this case, lack-there-of) further. Arielle – good point. Perhaps my wording of “lack of early playmates” was clumsy.

It was the artist herself that drew a connection between imaginative journeys and being an only child. I didn’t mean to imply that those without children wander in a world of their own making due to loneliness–I was just interested in the relationship to imagination and identity (more specifically, family identity) since Robin Schwartz seems to think there is a connection, as both an only child and a mother to an only child.

Obviously, this isn’t an essential trait of only children, as you’ve pointed out, but rather one woman’s perspective on being an only child. Being that this is a blog about siblinghood, I wanted to investigate her ideas on siblings (in this case, lack-there-of) further.

]]> By: Arielle http://thesisterproject.com/smith/journeying-through-the-imagination-with-robin-schwartz/comment-page-1/#comment-544 Arielle Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:30:14 +0000 http://thesisterproject.com/smith/?p=2334#comment-544 As an only child, I just want to step in here and say that I think it's a little reductionist to use the phrase "lack of early playmates" to describe only children. Growing up, I was not running around by myself creating imaginary friends. I spent a lot of time playing with both my parents, something that most my peers with siblings did not get to do as much of. Of course, having adult playmates is different than having child playmates, but I would never say that it affected my imagination, social skills, or my developing sense of self in any way. If you look at the great artists, thinkers, scientists, etc., of human history, you find both only children and those who grew up with siblings. In the end, creativity and genius will shine through in anyone who is blessed with it, regardless of birth order -- just as it will regardless of race, gender, social class, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or any other restricting category. "The only child" seems to be one of the few pervasive stereotypes of modern times which is for the most part commonly accepted and unchalleneged. It is always dangerous to form categories, and I think separating people into "only children" versus "children with siblings" is no different than making assumptions based on any other immutable trait (like those I listed above). As an only child, I just want to step in here and say that I think it’s a little reductionist to use the phrase “lack of early playmates” to describe only children. Growing up, I was not running around by myself creating imaginary friends. I spent a lot of time playing with both my parents, something that most my peers with siblings did not get to do as much of. Of course, having adult playmates is different than having child playmates, but I would never say that it affected my imagination, social skills, or my developing sense of self in any way. If you look at the great artists, thinkers, scientists, etc., of human history, you find both only children and those who grew up with siblings. In the end, creativity and genius will shine through in anyone who is blessed with it, regardless of birth order — just as it will regardless of race, gender, social class, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or any other restricting category. “The only child” seems to be one of the few pervasive stereotypes of modern times which is for the most part commonly accepted and unchalleneged. It is always dangerous to form categories, and I think separating people into “only children” versus “children with siblings” is no different than making assumptions based on any other immutable trait (like those I listed above).

]]> By: E http://thesisterproject.com/smith/journeying-through-the-imagination-with-robin-schwartz/comment-page-1/#comment-543 E Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:11:23 +0000 http://thesisterproject.com/smith/?p=2334#comment-543 The last one with the deer is my favorite! The last one with the deer is my favorite!

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