The Desire To Be Liked | Spoken Word

Описание: 'The Desire To Be Liked' is a spoken word piece with visuals exploring my relationship with my identity. I don't feel like I know who I am--but does anybody? I want to be authentically myself, but what does that mean?

Written, filmed, edited, and performed by Taryn Everdeen.

"When I was born, my mother gave me my name and society gave me this. 
The desire to be liked. I take it everywhere I go.
 
Growing up, the world knows that I am different. 
“Why don’t they like me?” 
 
My mother says, “Just be yourself.”
But when I look in the mirror, I realise I don’t know who that is: I’m constantly changing, my form rearranging to reflect the person I’m facing. 
 
Today, I say…
I want to be cool; kind; beautiful.
But never enough.
It’s a race with a finish line that’s constantly moving.
 
I want to be my authentic me.
But I care too much about what others see.
 
So, today, I say, I am going to be.
And that is enough."

This was originally created in response to the subject of 'selfie', a project for the first year entrance exams for the École Nationale Superieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. The version subtitled in French can be found here:
   • Le Désir d'être aimée | Spoken Word  

Big thank you to Nell Basley for helping to refine the spoken word piece, to Florence Lafargue-Mislov for helping translate the subtitles into French, and to Caitlin Foden for being a supportive angel. :) xx