ENCW 205: Art & Identity in New Orleans

While I know the blog posts aren’t supposed to mainly be about the quality of the works, I did want to say that I really enjoyed this book.  The whole concept was very interesting. Natasha Trethewey’s decision to take Bellocq’s photo and create a story from Ophelia’s POV is in approach I haven’t seen before. Trethewey’s background is in poetry so it’s not surprising that the letters are all poems themselves, even if some read more like prose.  The varying formats made for a very interesting experience while reading and made it a bit easier to read then if everything was broken up into couplets like some of the letters are.  All the letters are poems but some having much larger stanzas and read more like a prose letter broken into paragraphs.  They are all just different forms of poetry, but I am used to seeing poetry formatted in a number of specific ways, and because of that only some of the letters immediately look like poetry to me. While I quite enjoy poetry in general, I am unfortunately not usually the best at understanding any deeper meanings.  Despite that I am going to make my best effort to articulate my thoughts about the work.

For having only a series of photographs as inspiration Trethewey breathes an incredible amount of life into Ophelia.  I guess in practice it’s not all that much different than creating any fictional character, as these letters are not based on real knowledge of the life of the women Bellocq photographed, and yet somehow it feels different. Perhaps because most works of fiction do not feature letters prevalently, so something about reading letters feels more real.  Telling Ophelia’s story through letters makes her life and the things she writes about seem more real than they would have if Trethewey had simply written a short story or a book about the imagined life of the girl behind the pictures.  The POV granted by letters also helps make it feel real. Of course, any story can be told in first person (we just finished up with the Moviegoer, a whole novel in first person) but something about letter writing is a look into Ophelia’s thoughts in a unique way.  For example, after beginning to learn photography herself Ophelia writes,

“I would like one day, if you would/ permit me, to take your photograph, fix/ an image of you for my table/ to accompany what is left un my head./ I find it harder now, with each month/ that passes, to conjure the true lines/ of your face, and I fear you’ve begun/ to change just as I have. I believe/ I’ve learned the camera well – the danger/ of it, the half truths it can tell, but also/ the way it fastens us to our pasts, makes grand/ the unadorned moment. This is how/ I hope my lense would find you -turning/ from the board, your hands dusted/ with chalk, light on your face, your brow/ shining, and beneath it your eyes/ returning my own gaze. Then you’d hear/ the tiny sound of the shutter falling-/ that little trapdoor catching light, opening/ and closing like the valves of a heart.”

Even with her earlier stated dislike of how the camera does not capture all of reality, Ophelia still sees the beauty, the positives, of preserving things as photos.  This letter is not only a continuation of her telling Constance of her new skill and way of looking at life, but also a way to again say that she misses her. She is starting to forget what she looks like and wishes she could see her again and preserve the image forever.  It is also another version of what she wrote in an earlier letter that she wants to experience just the normal everyday things with her friend again.  IN her imagined image Constance is as she would be any regular day as a schoolteacher. Within the last stanza especially when Ophelia compares the shutter falling on a camera to the beat of a heart, it is also another way of expressing love and care for her friend without saying so.

There are other poems I quite enjoyed or found interesting within this book, but I don’t believe going over them in this post will make the points I am trying to make any clearer, so I’ll leave them for in class discussion.

Bellocq’s Ophelia is a poetry collection about a biracial prostitute named Ophelia or Violet in a New Orleans brothel. The name Ophelia echoes the character in Shakespeare’s Hamlet named Ophelia, a young woman who goes mad and ends up killing herself. Natasha Trethewey’s collection is about self-identity and the search to find oneself while struggling through the worst the world has to offer.

We start the book with a description of Millais’s painting of Ophelia compared to Bellocq’s Ophelia photograph. Both versions of Ophelia feature a tragically beautiful woman; the main difference, however, is that Millais’s model is clothed and Bellocq’s model is not. “Ophelia’s final gaze aims skyward, her palms curling open as if she’s just said, take me,” Trethewey writes, referring to Millais’s painting, which displays that even in a vulnerable state the ‘take me’ could be seen as both literal towards death or towards something more sexual. The poem continues:

“But in her face, a dare. Staring into the camera, she seems to pull all movement from her slender limbs and hold it in her heavy-lidded eyes. Her body limp as dead Ophelia’s her lips poised to open, to speak.”

This ties Bellocq’s photograph to the painting and how both models are seemingly dead and hold all their emotion in their face, which makes them tragically beautiful; but because Bellocq’s version is of a naked woman, we see more of the sexual feelings towards Ophelia, referring to the ‘take me’ from Millais’s version.

In sections 1, we get introduced to the letter Ophelia writes to her teacher friend back home named Constance Wright. Letter Home gives us information about how Ophelia is struggling to find a job but no business wants to hire “a girl.” We also learn that she is a biracial woman who attempted to present herself  as white. All she wants is to explore  new opportunities and escape her past in this new place. In section 2, the first letter is about Countess P and her advice for new girls; the ‘new girls’ are the newly hired prostitutes. The rules, to sum them up, are that you must learn that your purpose is to be watched and that you have to become what the clients desire, ultimately letting the clients see and experience what they want no matter the cost to oneself. Ophelia then writes to Constance, talking about how she has a roof over her head, thanks to Countess P, and writes about how she was auctioned off as a newcomer and a virgin along with Countess P stating that she recites poetry to give her more of a prestigious presenting past-life along with being called the African Violet to seem exotic. In the response to Ophelia, Constance is pissed off and calls her a wayward girl and mentions that he hates her new life choices; Ophelia’s response is that all she wants from Constances is his daily mundane life details. This shows that Ophelia truly craves the peace and quiet of a simple life and and the realness of self-identity and not what she has been backed into the corner to choose.

We are introduced to the fact that Ophelia has been sexually assaulted in the letter written in February, 1911; she talks about when she hit puberty and had a man grope her in the feed store. We also learn that she has been raised to mimic “white” poise and prestige and to be watched by trying to please her white father by learning how to mock his gestures and expressions, along with taking arsenic tablets to have bleached looking skin. We know that she was raped from the letter written in April, 1911 when a guy in the carnival mask chased her into the tobacco barn and placed a coin on her tongue. This shows that Ophelia was in a way pre-disposed to be in this position in life with how she was treated by men along with the mirroring her father to be more socially acceptable.

We get introduced in March, 1911 to Bellocq and how that he visits strictly to take pictures. “Now I face the camera, wait for the photograph to show me who I am,” (Pg. 21) this shows that Ophelia is still unsure of herself and who she truly is in this life. We see in September, 1911 that Ophelia has bought herself a camera and is now taking pictures with Bellocq as well as still being his model. Ophelia has gained more of a fascination with the art of photograph, being the woman behind the camera, and the way that it feels to dissect everything. She is truly fascinated by shiny features. Bellocq and Ophelia seem to have a very close friendly relationship instead of the client and prostitute relationship.

In section 3, we get introduced to the Storyville Diary. The first one, titled Naming, is about how Ophelia finds comfort in her name and how she she used it growing up on what seems to be a plantation. The second one is about her father, we learn that she doesn’t remember much about him but we can assume that she feared him. However, we do see that he is the reason she holds a place in her heart for education. She also states that it is her biggest fear that he will come in and be both her client and father. The third letter is about Bellocq, she finds it odd that he truly wants nothing but to take the pictures of the women. The Blue book is introduced in the forth letter, “Violet, a fair-skinned beauty, recites poetry and soliloquies; nightly she preforms her tableau vivant, becomes a living statue, and object of art- and I fade again into someone I’m not,” (Pg. 40) the blue book seems to be a book of all the prostitutes in the brothel along with a description, but Ophelia finds hers to not be accurate to herself. The last couple letters are more about Ophelia taking the pictures along with Bellocq and him teaching her the photography trade.

Overall, this was my favorite book to read during the 3-week and that shocks me because poetry is not my forte. It offers up the differences in society from then to now, especially with the overall theme of colorism and how prostitution was in a way normalized back then compared to now.

In this poem, Bellocq is once again in Ophelia’s room. He’s there to take another picture of her, nothing else. They are more familiar with each other at this point in the collection, with her referring to him as “Papá Bellocq”. She’s started seeing him as a father figure or mentor of sorts. Ophelia has learned from accompanying him to other shoots, and now she sees her surroundings through a photographer’s lens; she positions herself the way she thinks he’d like and identifies each potential prop in her room. The final line of this piece is one that really highlights Ophelia’s position as a prostitute: “I’m not so foolish that I don’t know this photograph we make will bear the stamp of his name, not mine.”

This sentence truly puts their societal positions into perspective. No matter how close they became, Bellocq was a white man and Ophelia was a mixed-race prostitute. He would always be a station above her, even if she was white. Ophelia has come to terms with her reality, and she acknowledges it. Even with the skills she’s gained and even with all the help she’s given, Ophelia’s name won’t be on the photograph. It will be Bellocq’s, and she’s come to terms with it.

Her resignation comments on not only the time’s view of her station, but also the views on her race and gender. She’s not just a prostitute, she’s also a woman of color. Ophelia is there for the amusement and entertainment of others. She will only be seen as an “exotic curiosity”, as she describes in her August 1911 letter to Constance. Even posed in the nice, higher class clothes Ophelia wears regularly in an attempt to distance herself from her profession, there’s no ignoring the reality.

I really enjoyed this book as a whole but in her letter to her friend from February 1911 really stuck out to me. This poem really resonated with me as Ophelia sort of explains herself to her friend. She explains how different clients utilize her time and how she has moments of reflection as remembrance as to the beauty of her own body. Ophelia also seems to suggest a memory of violation? Talking about how a man was sneering, calling her womanish as he leans over her, pinching her breasts. I cannot tell if she is recalling this to justify her profession or to make conversation with her friend, but I do find it interesting that she would choose this time to recount the memory. The final line, “I am then nothing but the light I see behind my shut eyelids.” shows her distancing herself from  not only herself but also from her memories of self discovery at 13.

I think that this piece in particular does well at representing the overarching purpose of the book. By ending with the line “and I fade again into someone I’m not.” it’s presented very clearly that this character is desperate to be seen beyond what is written of her and shown. To humanize this character of Ophelia/Violet is to make her real. It keeps the reader from separating these photographs from their original setting and forces you to confront the reality of these very real women. To be perceived as something you are not is tortuous in one’s mind. What is written of her in this book is essentially rumor. I think it’s helpful to keep this in mind. However, this statement also tells us that she is powerless to this and has no other choice but to fade into this other character who is comfortable in this station.

Father – February 1911

“There is but little I recall of him – how I feared his visits, though he would bring gifts: apples, candy, a toothbrush, and powder. In exchange, I must present fingernails and ears, and open my mouth to show the teeth. Then I’d recite my lessons, my voice low. I would stumble over a simple word, say lay for lie, and he would stop me there. How I wanted him to like me, think me smart, a delicate colored girl – not the wild pickaninny roaming the fields, barefoot. I search now for his face among the men I pass in the streets, fear the day a man enters my room both customer and father.”

I found this poem particularly sad in how it describes Ophelias’ first memories of her father. All she has known her whole life is proving herself to the men around her. Proving that she is worthy of whatever they expect from her. Yet she still craves validation from the same men she fears. I feel like that really resonates with the world today. Many women struggle with craving the validation of those around them but that same validation comes from a place of fear. Ophelias’ father also brings her gifts every time he sees her, I’m assuming he does so to gain her trust and break down that awkwardness that exists ahead. This behavior can also be seen today. Men attempt to distract people with gifts and charm in order to gain the trust of those around them, generally with an ulterior motive. I just found it strangely similar to today’s society and the female view on men and how they act regardless of whether their our relatives or not.

The poem book Bellocq’s Ophelia, by Natasha Tretheway, is a creative writing piece about the prostitutes of New Orleans throughout the 20th century. Tretheway created this book by looking at 20th century photos of prostitutes in New Orleans and from these photos, Tretheway gave these women a story that went beyond their job occupation. This poetry book sheds light on the history of the prostitutes in New Orleans which is a part of history that is not well known by the public due to its taboo nature. 

This poetry book focuses on one young woman who’s name is Ophelia. The poetry in this book describes Ophelia’s beginnings and why she left for New Orleans. This is a common theme between all the pieces of literature we have read in class because each author writes about how the protagonist is not originally from New Orleans and they head to this city in search of much needed change in their lives. The only exception to this is Binx from the novel The Moviegoer. This poetry book seems to act as a personal diary for Ophelia because not only do these passages have a date but they also describe her emotions.

 Another interesting aspect about the poetry in this book is that Ophelia brings up the morals behind her job. This is interesting because it discusses the elephant in the room and it gives the reader an insight as to why Ophelia made the choices she did regarding her job (pg 15). Ophelia expresses how even though her job is being a prostitute, she is still making her own living and making her own income. She is independent and does not rely on a man to make her decisions for her which separates her from the standard of an early 20th century woman. This shows how Ophelia finds freedom within her job. 

I think it’s very interesting how the author includes the photographer into the poems that she writes and makes him his own character. I also think it’s interesting how the author makes the photographer more and more prominent in the story as it continues rather than having him intertwined with Ophelia which to me gives Ophelia the spotlight rather than making the entire book about her and the photographer. I really enjoyed this book and I liked how the book was more about Ophelia rather than her job occupation. This made her more human to me. This book sheds light on an under-appreciated side of history.

I usually don’t enjoy poems, but each poem from Natasha Trethewey’s collection I found particularly captivating. In this book, there are a variety of poems inspired by photographs of E.J. Bellocq. The book explores the life of a mixed-race prostitute named Ophelia in New Orleans during the early 1900’s. The poems focus on the themes of identity, race, and complexities of Ophelia’s experiences.

One excerpt that particularly stood out to me states, “she’s no longer listening; she’s forgotten he’s there.” I found this line interesting because it captures a moment of detachment. It portrays a sense of distance between the two individuals, where one becomes lost in their own thoughts and disregards the other. It creates a feeling of isolation and highlights the complexities of relationships and disconnection that can occur.

Overall, this book provides a unique perspective on the historical/social context of early 1900s New Orleans. The poems explore the challenges Ophelia faced due to her race and I thought it was a very captivating read.

In Natasha Trethewey’s “Bellocq’s Ophelia”, themes of representation and identity resonate prominently, shedding light on the complex lives of women like the Ophelia presented in this instance who lived in the margins of society during the early 20th century. Through verses encompassing vivid imagery and parallels to other characters in literature, Trethewey explores the intricate interactions between authenticity and performance, using the character Ophelia as a lens through which to examine these themes.

The poem “Blue Book” encapsulates the central ideas of the collection. In this poem, the act of dressing up and posing for the camera is a form of self-presentation and identity construction, in this case also presenting a tension between the public persona she must project and her inner self.

Trethewey’s use of vivid imagery is captivating, especially when she mentions Bellocq’s black scrim covering the laundry in the background. This juxtaposition of elegance and laundry evokes the evident contrast between Ophelia’s public image and the mundane reality of her life. It reflects the idea that society often prefers to see these women as objects of beauty and artistry, rather than acknowledging their everyday struggles.

Ophelia’s performance and representation are further emphasized when Countess, a character within the poem, writes her description for a book. Ophelia is described as “Violet,” a fair-skinned beauty who recites poetry and soliloquies, performing nightly as a living statue. This portrayal indicates the commodification of Ophelia’s identity, as she is transformed into an object of art and fantasy, stripped of her true self. This is a theme that is not strange to the experience of womanhood and girlhood, and Ophelia’s character echoes this theme by illustrating the process of navigating identity. 

A crucial aspect of “Bellocq’s Ophelia” is the comparison or parallel drawn between this Ophelia and other Ophelias from literature. Ophelia, as a character, has appeared in various literary works, most notably in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” In Shakespeare’s play, Ophelia is a tragic figure who becomes a victim of circumstances and mental illness. Trethewey’s Ophelia shares some similarities with Shakespeare’s character, as both are women trapped in oppressive circumstances. However, Trethewey’s Ophelia differs in that she is not merely a passive victim but rather an active participant in her own narrative, using performance as a means of survival and self-expression.

Trethewey’s Ophelia also stands in contrast to the traditional portrayal of Ophelia as a delicate and submissive character. She challenges societal expectations and refuses to be confined to a single identity. Instead, she navigates a world where her representation is both a shield and a prison, highlighting the complexities of identity in a society that objectifies and commodifies women.