This piece offers a little different perspective on the teen phenomenon known to most as "cutting": the narrator happened upon it by accident while washing the dishes, instead of making a decision to try it like most. In fact, it's this kind of unconventional energy that permeates the piece. Segments and thoughts are purposely disjointed, giving the listener the impression of a stream-of-consciousness or a diary being flipped through. Adding to the disjointed feeling is the juxtaposition of the diary entries; the narrator insists that "cutting works" while her life crashes down around her.
The piece does a great job of describing an atmosphere in which one would choose to cut, and exploring how that atmosphere would affect a cutter as time goes on. The only thing missing is a slightly deeper explanation of the feelings that cutting itself brings on - why does the act make you feel better? Even without the answer, this piece would still be an excellent addition to any show on teen health or teen social issues, as the emergence of cutting is now too big to safely ignore.
Review of I'll Quit Cutting When You Quit Smoking
Emily Raymond
Posted on August 03, 2006 at 09:13 AM
This piece offers a little different perspective on the teen phenomenon known to most as "cutting": the narrator happened upon it by accident while washing the dishes, instead of making a decision to try it like most. In fact, it's this kind of unconventional energy that permeates the piece. Segments and thoughts are purposely disjointed, giving the listener the impression of a stream-of-consciousness or a diary being flipped through. Adding to the disjointed feeling is the juxtaposition of the diary entries; the narrator insists that "cutting works" while her life crashes down around her.
The piece does a great job of describing an atmosphere in which one would choose to cut, and exploring how that atmosphere would affect a cutter as time goes on. The only thing missing is a slightly deeper explanation of the feelings that cutting itself brings on - why does the act make you feel better? Even without the answer, this piece would still be an excellent addition to any show on teen health or teen social issues, as the emergence of cutting is now too big to safely ignore.