We Might Have Been A River

Abstract

We Might Have Been A River is an experience of embodiment as told through the exploration of sound, touch, language, and water. Seeking to question and understand the impacts of cultural and economic systems such as capitalism, consumerism, and individualism on the body, the author investigates her relationship to these systems as they influence her relationship to the natural world, her own body, and others. Through an interrogation of the senses, namely sound and touch, the author explores loneliness, physical intimacy, and connection. Simultaneously, she examines language as a means of inquiry––a place of questioning that allows her to investigate the ideals of individualism, collectivism, and consumerism through a breakdown of the words we use to make up our sense of selfhood. Finally, water remains the soothing balm and wise teacher throughout the process, informing what it might mean to exist more embodied and collectively in the world.