Artwork

Makes you wonder.... who the hell drew this

The text on the picture makes me feel like it was done by an outsider, and the phrase "Don't Worry, she dances to a different drummer" makes me think perhaps the artist was female and of same-sex persuasion? Just a theory

Note the interaction between the two girls behind her.

My take on it is that the one girl was pointing out to the other that she still had some broccoli on her teeth. Sometimes there are things that only your bestest girlfriend will tell you.

The date of the photo would be of interest given the attitude toward people who were gay back 'in the day'. Before the American Psychiatric Association (A.P.A.) denounced the belief homosexuality was considered a mental disorder, it was common for gay people to be admitted into such establishments. Being gay myself, I'm very glad that isn't the case. Otherwise, it might have well been a drawing of my own making! It would be interesting to know how many gay people were victims of this ignorance in the past. You're probably looking at a drawing created by a perfectly sane person who was forced into the confusion that ignorance only brings!

As a dancer, I'm sure the person in the back with no dance outfit on is the dance teacher, saying the dreaded phrase "chin up, eyes front !!"

I think the two girls in back are saying "its ok, I wont tell if you wont"

I think it's fascinating when actual personal expressions are left behind by patients. It makes you wonder about their lives all that much more...

What were the others like Motts? Do you remember?

I hope so! The stuff you found is really cool.

Ah, yes, my abnormal psychology professor would often go into little rants about homosexuality being included in versions of DSM well into... what was it? 1980's? Or, was it the 60's. The only thing that really sticks in my mind about that class is the professor going on a really long rant about how it doesn't take a genius to know what medicine to prescribe and that psychologists should be able to do so and the only reason they can't is because of the psychiatrists wanting to keep all the big money to themselves. I always had the suspicion that he was just jealous that he never went to medical school. He was a good guy though. It was a fun class and I still occasionally watch the CD-Rom that came with the textbook that had a bunch of videos of people with various disorders. The schizophrenics are absolutely fascinating to observe.

Hi Keith,
I'm in college now and I so want to take an abnormal psychology course, it sounds fascinating. Can you please tell me what were some of the most interesting points on the tape? :-)

You're digging too deep I think. When I saw it I simply thought about his/her mental illness... because mental illness can be described as dancing to the different music (other people do not hear that music). It may be a brilant metaphor I like it very much

What Nif said.

She's the only one in a tu-tu, shes got her eyes shut, dancing away to her own little beat.

I really like this drawing, she seems so happy... ergh, I probably relate to it too much. :S

i was looking more in the background at the girl in the black tu tu like she doesn't belong. the girl in the front seems to be "correct"
all the COMMENTS are interesting as well to see different peoples perspectives gives a bit of an insight to their personalities as well as whoever drew the picture.

Thanks for interpreting what it said i couldn't read it..

What missmiddleofamerica said...
probably reading WAY too much into this little drawing, but looking at it as someone with a lengthy background in classical ballet, both girls in white leotards seem to have correct position, while the girl in the black leotard in the background is all over the place. And did anyone else notice... looks like black leotard girl's left arm was drawn once, erased, and then repositioned by the artist into its present position. An interesting little drawing indeed... Autographed by the artist, too, I might add...

Has anyone else noticed how similar the children are to Charles Schultz' "Peanuts"?

you know,... the person that was the first one to talk had a point. WHO THE HELL DREW THIS????

How telling, how descritive, we are still the children.

It looks like M. Taho drew it. :)

I know I may be reading too far into it, but my first thought was that the person who drew this may have had a friend who passed away, and maybe this was drawn as a way to comfort herself, saying "don't worry... she's dancing somewhere else now" or something like that.

What an excellent picture, I think it's really quite clever.

My reading of it is that it is saying even though she isn't accepted by others, 'dont worry' she is simply doing her own thing. 'dancing' to her own beat.

I also noticed the Peanuts style of this.

Youtube had lots of old Sid Davis style information films from the time homosexuality was considered a desease. The seem too daft to take serious these days,

my take on it is that the 2 in leotards at the back are been given instruction the one without the leotard is puttin the other one in the correct position and would probably go on to do the same with the girl in the black leotard who's flounderin about. Whereas the one in front is takin no instruction and is dancing quite happily to her own beat...I really like this pic

its very nicely drawn not like some of the other more messed up drawings in other mental hospitals in this site.

I love this site. This is my first time here and I have been browsing for 3 hours straight! My neck hurts, my eyes are burning, and I can't stop.

ChicagoTom, I know the feeling. I've spent ten hours over the last three days since I found this site. Motts' work is superb, both in the search, infiltration, photography, and web site design.

As if we needed it this is a reminder that people lived here. More than just an empty chair. I like this.

being a dancer myself , i agree with both sides of view on this picture .

it could be that she is of the same - sex persuasion or it could be just the fact that whoever drew this knew that their mental illness was basically 'dancing to a different drummer ' .

either way , i still love the shot .
very cryptic .
(:

Very napoleon XIV!

I agree with Apple. I've often heard the phrase "dancing to a different drummer" used in relation to people with mental illness.

Awwww G'job! You're unique...just like everyone else!

Perhaps based off of the phrase "dancing to the beat of your own drum" (or was it "marching"?)

I'm bisexual, but I'm sure my own mental disorder has very little to do with that :)

The fubby thing is how much you "sane" people are reading into a little picture probably drawn by a "crazy" Priceless !!