Performance Artist Has All Sides of the Abortion Debate Screaming and Yale-ing

Faster than you can say "our bodies, ourselves," Yale senior Aliza Shvarts has become an internet phenomenon. All sides of the abortion debate are confused, amused, or flat-out disgusted by her art senior project, which allegedly consists of the blood of many miscarriages and Vaseline smeared on giant cubes.

According to Shvarts, she regularly artificially-inseminated herself, then videotaped herself taking abortifacient "herbs" during her menstrual cycle. The ambiguity, and controversy, of her project dwelled in both the internet uproar and the fact that even she did not know whether the blood was an early abortion, or just her regular period.

"These [reproductive] organs can do other things, can have other purposes, and it is the prerogative of every individual to acknowledge and explore this wide realm of capability," says the senior, whose project will be on display at the university starting April 22.

It's an interesting concept for a project, and I hesitate say what is "art" and what isn't. Still, I get the impression that Shvarts' passion or interest for reproductive rights is moot- she merely chose the most controversial topic matter at hand. I also feel that this could add fuel to the fire that pro-choicers only get abortions for the hell of it, a popular argument among those who do not understand the gravity of the situation.

Is this Shvarts 15 minutes of fame, or is she the next champion for reproductive rights?