The Vagina Monologues - Eve Ensler (Performed v. Written)

It was a very different experience watching some of these monologues being performed rather than just reading them in privacy. The performances really bring a massive uncomfortable feeling that you can't get from just reading them alone. Ensler created these monologues with the intention of them being performed which I believe says a lot about them. Because she wanted them to be performed, you can really get the sense that she wanted the information and topics included in the monologues to be publicized. When you read these monologues at home in your own time they may have uncomfortable topics but generally speaking, they do not make you want to walk away from the book. When someone is sitting in front of you, acting out, reading, or personalizing the stories it becomes real and all of a sudden the content is ten times as uncomfortable. When we watched "The Flood" in class it was absolutely awkward to watch Ensler perform. While reading this monologue I was not particularly uncomfortable. The story was a strange experience for this woman to have but all in all it was a pretty okay read. When Ensler performed the reading on stage, she gave the reading more meaning, her voice would climb and fall with expression which would almost make your skin crawl when you thought about exactly what she was talking about. If it wasn't for the comic relief she includes in the stories I do not think I would be able to watch without feeling so uncomfortable I would have to turn away.