The other night John and I were talking about how as Joyce gets bigger, more and more of her emerges. I don't quite have the words for this - but it's as if who Joyce is becomes more clear and she has more developed capacities for expressing that. It really makes me think about what defines consciousness - in my department for example there are some theories of thought that say unless you have language you are not conscious. Joyce doesn't have verbal language and so some may say she is not a conscious being. However, in another class, we read Bakhtin - a Russian theorist who loved Dostoevsky - and he says that consciousness involves communication that both reflects old responses and anticipates new ones. Looking at Joyce's faces I love the degree of engagement such a tiny being can reflect. It feels like such a privilege to watch her grow into herself. Even on the days when I am so exhausted and wondering what I am trying to do by going to school and care for a small infant, I am happy to watch her.
3 comments:
jules - this is beautiful. joyce is so beautiful. i love these expressions and i think that small children are such poignant examples of things like innate personality and consciousness and humanness. i love it. please post pictures as much as possible. kiss her for me. love, em
I love all pictures of Joyce, but that last picture makes me melt a little, what a great smile! She is simply gorgeous. And as for the craziness of going to school and being a new mom, we are all rooting for you back here, and know that you are probably rocking it out as usual :)
Hey Julie,
Joyce is so cute. I can't wait to meet her and sorry I haven't had the chance too. Please tell her Aunt Melanie says hi and Em. please tell Margurite i say hi, John, Xavier, hi to Stephen, and Marc. I can't wait to see everyone soon. I love you all so much,
love
Mels
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