Collected Item: “Michelle Sparrow Oral History, 2022/06/30”
Title
Michelle Sparrow
Who conducted the interview? List all names, separated by comma.
Kit Heintzman
Who was interviewed? List all names, separated by commas.
Michelle Sparrow
Email Address(es) for all interviewers. Separated by comma.
kheintzman@gmail.com
Use one-word hashtags (separated by commas) to describe your oral history. For example: Where did it originate? How does this object make you feel? How does this object relate to the pandemic?
#abuse, #artist, #Autism, #Canada, #cats, #disabled, #ER, #food, #foodbank, #hospital, #motherhood, #Ontario, #Ottawa, #pets, #psychiatry, #queer, #rape, #relationships, #squatting, #television, #trauma, #walkability
What is the format of your recording?
Video
In what ZIP code is the primary residence of the interviewee? (enter 5-digit ZIP code; for example, 00544 or 94305)? In what city/town/village does the interviewee live? In what country does the interviewee live? All comma-separated.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
What is the gender of the interviewee? Be sure to allow interviewees to self-identify their gender in the pre-interview or interview. *Do not assign a gender identity to interviewees.*
Female end of spectrum, she or they
What is the age of the interviewee?
35 to 44
How does the interviewee describe their race or ethnicity? Be sure to allow interviewees to self-identify their race/ethnicity in the pre-interview or interview. *Do not assign a racial or ethnic identity to interviewees.*
Caucasian Canadian ... I suppose
Describe the oral history.
Some of the things we discussed include:
- Squatting at the beginning of the pandemic; unstable housing; limited internet access; social assistance.
- Living with partner of 14+ years; short term breakup mid-pandemic.
- Living with an unmedicated schizophrenic roommate.
- Living with a sexual predator; rape culture.
- Medical sexism and discrimination; no family doctor; poor access to mental healthcare.
- Difficulty accessing a food bank and dumpstering.
- Changing art styles with changing body/disability.
- Seeking healthcare for serious acute bleeding; treatment in the ER.
- Being estranged from parents; not being able to see biological child, who was adopted by a sibling, due to COVID bubble limitations.
- The importance of walkability during the pandemic.
- Psychedelics and mental health.
- Humans’ place in nature, humans as nature.
- Not being able to afford proper veterinary care; pets (Legion and LeMieux), cats dying.
- Animals and PTSD.
- Reducing use of public transit during the pandemic.
- How television shows incorporated the pandemic in storytelling.
- The history of pandemics, vaccines, and medicine.
Other cultural references include: Giant Tiger, Frida Kahlo, Star Trek, Louie Schwartzberg’s Fantastic Fungi (2019), Netflix, Shortbus (2006), Egyptian deities Nut and Geb
See also:
https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/music/female-led-acts-help-kick-off-bluesfest-with-electronic-vibe
https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2011/08/31/elle-manifeste-les-seins-nus
- Squatting at the beginning of the pandemic; unstable housing; limited internet access; social assistance.
- Living with partner of 14+ years; short term breakup mid-pandemic.
- Living with an unmedicated schizophrenic roommate.
- Living with a sexual predator; rape culture.
- Medical sexism and discrimination; no family doctor; poor access to mental healthcare.
- Difficulty accessing a food bank and dumpstering.
- Changing art styles with changing body/disability.
- Seeking healthcare for serious acute bleeding; treatment in the ER.
- Being estranged from parents; not being able to see biological child, who was adopted by a sibling, due to COVID bubble limitations.
- The importance of walkability during the pandemic.
- Psychedelics and mental health.
- Humans’ place in nature, humans as nature.
- Not being able to afford proper veterinary care; pets (Legion and LeMieux), cats dying.
- Animals and PTSD.
- Reducing use of public transit during the pandemic.
- How television shows incorporated the pandemic in storytelling.
- The history of pandemics, vaccines, and medicine.
Other cultural references include: Giant Tiger, Frida Kahlo, Star Trek, Louie Schwartzberg’s Fantastic Fungi (2019), Netflix, Shortbus (2006), Egyptian deities Nut and Geb
See also:
https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/music/female-led-acts-help-kick-off-bluesfest-with-electronic-vibe
https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2011/08/31/elle-manifeste-les-seins-nus
On what date did you record this oral history?
2022-06-30T10:16