The Me-Too movement has been widely seen on social media platforms as a way to empower women who have experienced sexual harassment and assault by showing survivors they are not alone.
Art and literature have always played a big role in how people share stories and ideas with one another. The social movement “Me Too” is no exception.
One of the first books that came from the Me Too movement, "Indelible in the Hippocampus: Writings from the Me Too Movement," features Utah poet laureate Paisley Rekdal.
“I think there's a kind of irony about books and, and media stories about these things being taken up because of course, it gives more attention," said Rekdal. "It promotes a wider audience, but at the same time, I think it can also numb us and make us feel as if we've accomplished enough simply by being part of the audience of the story.”
Paisley tells the story of a Silla Mela who was raped by her brother- in- law and to keep her from telling anyone, her tongue was cut out. Mela uses art and weaves a tapestry to tell her story and get revenge.
“In fact art has the ability to both transform suffering and pain, but also to communicate suffering and pain to other people," said Rekdal I think a lot of us want to believe that both that art heals and also art transmits these stories so that we become more and more aware of it.”
To purchase "Indelible in the Hippocampus," visit amazon.com or store.mcsweeneys.net.
