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Doll Despair

@dolldespair / dolldespair.tumblr.com

Examining existential crises and subsequent despair through the lives of dolls
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#dolldespair courtesy of Jeopardy last night: “Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy sh*t we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war... our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very p*ssed off.” -Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club www.dolldespair.com

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I think I need to revive Doll Despair b/c these are dolldespairy times. "The whole thing is quite hopeless, so it's no good worrying about tomorrow. It probably won't come." -J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King #dolldespair www.dolldespair.com

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In honor (despair?) of registering for an NCLEX (nursing license exam) date during my first full-time PhD semester, a #dolldespair after a long drought. "My sufferings are a part of my self and my art. They are indistinguishable from me, and their destruction would destroy my art. I want to keep those sufferings. Without anxiety and illness, I am a ship without a rudder." - Edvard Munch www.dolldespair.com

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In honor (despair?) of registering for an NCLEX (nursing license exam) date during my first full-time PhD semester, a #dolldespair after a long drought. "My sufferings are a part of my self and my art. They are indistinguishable from me, and their destruction would destroy my art. I want to keep those sufferings. Without anxiety and illness, I am a ship without a rudder." - Edvard Munch www.dolldespair.com

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"To be human is to keep rattling the bars of the cage of existence, hollering, 'What's it for?'" -Robert Fulghum #dolldespair www.dolldespair.com

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"Life is rather a short walk through eternity. Be they seeds, pups or infants, on the trek all pick up weight, sensitivity and awareness. Then, much before the end of the run, they deteriorate, head, legs and lungs. The tragicomedy of existence: the long walk of slow decay." -Dagobert D. Runes, A Dictionary of Thought #dolldespair www.dolldespair.com

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"When the infant has severe obstruction to pulmonary blood flow, hypercyanotic episodes can occur suddenly. Signs include increased rate and depth of respirations, increased heart rate, increased cyanosis or pallor, poor tissue perfusion, diaphoresis, irritability and crying, and seizures and loss of consciousness. The knee-chest position reduces the cardiac output by decreasing the venous return from the lower extremities and by increasing the systemic vascular resistance." Gonna try to learn tons of pediatric conditions for final exam via #dolldespair www.dolldespair.com

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"She had lived her early years as though she were waiting for something she might, but never did, become." -Marguerite Duras/The Ravishing of Lol Stein #dolldespair www.dolldespair.com

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"When used late in pregnancy or during breast-feeding, benzodiazepines have been associated with floppy infant syndrome, neonatal withdrawal symptoms...." -my psychiatric nursing textbook (yes, really, "floppy infant syndrome" is a real thing!!!) #dolldespair #finalexamstudying www.dolldespair.com

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"Doll Despair" Tumblr book proposal

“Doll Despair” illuminates existential crises and subsequentdespair through the “lives” of dolls; each photo, which is comprised of a scene that is exactly as I found it (from adventures in babysitting!), is paired with a pertinent quote, usually derived from depressing philosophy, French novels, and thought-provoking films like “Fight Club” and “Hiroshima mon amour” or plays like “Waiting for Godot.” While reminiscent of idyllic childhood on the surface, the bright yet empty and heavy eyes of these dolls remind us all of the pointlessness of everything, the inevitability of mortality, and a longing for the daily playfulness experienced by young children. While supposed to be provocative and disheartening, Doll Despair is also humorous and tongue-in-cheek.

 “Doll Despair” falls into the Art and Humor categories, and will translate nicely into a “coffee table” type book that would look similar to the Tumblr page. Alternatively, I could write narratives to accompany each picture and quote, to speculate about each doll’s “story” and plight. Future plans involve an art gallery show, where the photos are blown up and the quotes are temporarily projected onto the photos via motion detectors.

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"I was tired by life, one of those whose tragedy it was never to have encountered a pessimism equal to their own." -Marguerite Duras, The Sailor From Gibraltar Thank you Danny for sending me a #dolldespair to caption! Www.dolldespair.com

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This is quite possibly my favorite #dolldespair to date. Thanks, playmobil somehow perfectly set up by my little one in her dollhouse!!! "It is said that scattered through Despair's domain are a multitude of tiny windows, hanging in the void. Each window looks out onto a different scene, being, in our world, a mirror. Sometimes you look into a mirror and feel the eyes of Despair upon you, feel her hook catch and snag on your heart. Despair says little, and is patient." -Neil Gaiman "The Sandman" www.dolldespair.com

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