In case it isn't abundantly clear, all of these "judgments" had nothing to do with Miranda July and were complete projections of myself. I think All Fours is a masterpiece, it made me question so much about my own marriage, sexuality, and motherhood and brought up a lot for me around aging/perimenopause. I think Miranda July is fucking phenomenal, and I think she can own rubbing oil on her ass and being as sexy as she wants to be publicly. I'm grateful to her for the freedom she inspires in women like me.
I’m a guy, so it’s different for me and I’m not sure I should be commenting. But, please know that we all have our own versions of Miranda. Some of mine include observing the success of other authors, or relationships that I know I deserve but have alluded me, or others just being more peaceful and content then I feel. We are all just human, Julie, which is why I appreciated your vulnerability here so much.
I found this a very funny, refreshing, honest take on envy. Very human. That said, I couldn't finish All Fours and I'm all for sex positive road trips. Tried multiple times because everyone's been talking about this book and just couldn't. I'm a writer in L.A. who doesn't want to be Miranda July. Maybe that's weird, but I do wish her and her hot, oily ass all the best.
Okay, but literally everyone I know feels this way about her. It's an extra spicy meatball for me, because 1. she's 6 years older than me and from my hometown (though she went to private prep school and I went to public school, so we had just enough degrees of separation to not be classmates) 2. My undergrad institution in LA would pay her to present whatever she had farted out that year, year after year, before she was as mainstream famous. I think she just exists to be triggering somehow. She's famous because she's sentient ragebait, an allergen who makes struggling artists itch and sneeze. She's talented but not SO talented that she should be famous when we (we being anyone and everyone) are not. She's normal and relatable enough that she evokes a strong sense of "why not me?" There was another girl I went to school with who also triggered this bitterness in me- she was name dropped in a Le Tigre song, got a publishing deal at age 16, got hired as a writer on my favorite TV show when I was unemployed- but she's largely irrelevant now after writing a book that was deemed "problematic" so there goes the fickle nature of fame. IDK where I'm going with all this other than to say- these feelings are very normal. Also I think not only do you and I and whoever need to be leading our best lives (and I do believe I am in my own way), but there needs to be MORE SPACE for other Miranda Julys. Some of the jealousy comes from the fact that the entertainment and art worlds are still places where men receive disproportionate opportunities for far less talent.
1) I'm reading All Fours right now and really enjoying it. 2) I saw the same post and thought "How does she have such a great ass?" and also "What does it mean to her to show it to us?"
I have felt this same thing sitting in the audience of an author I adore spoke on stage at an event. I thought - I could fucking do that too. Except I’m not a multi book published much loved author. Instead I just dared to start a substack even if barely no one reads it. I am on team adoration for “all fours” life altering lightning bolt type stuff. Love this post, it’s like I can see it swirling in your brain.
This is so awesome. I feel all those feelings too. Side note: I just told my husband one of our 2 favorite characters from OITNB liked my note! Well, the actress, not the character—I get that. But as a mom/writer myself I am in awe of YOU. And all you’ve done, more so even than of Miranda July. So…I hope we both love ourselves a little more or whatever.
Good writing here. I’ll be honest, I forgot about Miranda July, who I had to google, but I will give her major props for “Me, You, and Everyone We Know.” Which, admittedly, is a brilliant movie. I used to own that movie on DVD and it’s somewhere in a sleeve, in a box, with other movies I haven’t seen in ages, like “Swingers,” “Good Night and Good Luck,” and a bunch of random surf movies from the 90’s with punk soundtracks.
I used to watch these when I, too, lived in LA, maybe a semi-favorite city, behind Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. Now I live in the Midwest and am currently blanketed in snow.
I don’t think of that movie or July often anymore, but when I do I think of one sublime scene. There’s a small, precocious and cute, black kid, whose exact role I can’t particularly recall, but I remember he talks about his fantasy of pooping with someone, “back and forth,” with the poop moving between the two parties, human centipede style, but between the respective butts “forever”. Absolutely genius writing, acting, and concept in that scene. So if I were to imagine her butt, it wouldn’t be slathered in yogic oils, but rather locked in the infinite poop. Which is still pretty cool.
In case it isn't abundantly clear, all of these "judgments" had nothing to do with Miranda July and were complete projections of myself. I think All Fours is a masterpiece, it made me question so much about my own marriage, sexuality, and motherhood and brought up a lot for me around aging/perimenopause. I think Miranda July is fucking phenomenal, and I think she can own rubbing oil on her ass and being as sexy as she wants to be publicly. I'm grateful to her for the freedom she inspires in women like me.
I’m a guy, so it’s different for me and I’m not sure I should be commenting. But, please know that we all have our own versions of Miranda. Some of mine include observing the success of other authors, or relationships that I know I deserve but have alluded me, or others just being more peaceful and content then I feel. We are all just human, Julie, which is why I appreciated your vulnerability here so much.
Aw thank you, Don! 🙏
I found this a very funny, refreshing, honest take on envy. Very human. That said, I couldn't finish All Fours and I'm all for sex positive road trips. Tried multiple times because everyone's been talking about this book and just couldn't. I'm a writer in L.A. who doesn't want to be Miranda July. Maybe that's weird, but I do wish her and her hot, oily ass all the best.
I wish more people were this self-aware and weren't satisfied with stopping at "I hate her".
Yeah I think envy is always a clue. I’m going to start listening more to it. Thank you 🙏
Okay, but literally everyone I know feels this way about her. It's an extra spicy meatball for me, because 1. she's 6 years older than me and from my hometown (though she went to private prep school and I went to public school, so we had just enough degrees of separation to not be classmates) 2. My undergrad institution in LA would pay her to present whatever she had farted out that year, year after year, before she was as mainstream famous. I think she just exists to be triggering somehow. She's famous because she's sentient ragebait, an allergen who makes struggling artists itch and sneeze. She's talented but not SO talented that she should be famous when we (we being anyone and everyone) are not. She's normal and relatable enough that she evokes a strong sense of "why not me?" There was another girl I went to school with who also triggered this bitterness in me- she was name dropped in a Le Tigre song, got a publishing deal at age 16, got hired as a writer on my favorite TV show when I was unemployed- but she's largely irrelevant now after writing a book that was deemed "problematic" so there goes the fickle nature of fame. IDK where I'm going with all this other than to say- these feelings are very normal. Also I think not only do you and I and whoever need to be leading our best lives (and I do believe I am in my own way), but there needs to be MORE SPACE for other Miranda Julys. Some of the jealousy comes from the fact that the entertainment and art worlds are still places where men receive disproportionate opportunities for far less talent.
You “nasty puritanical bitch “ YOU are my hero ! Yay, yay, yay - to us all - thanks for writing this !
Hahaha thank you! Yay to you!!
1) I'm reading All Fours right now and really enjoying it. 2) I saw the same post and thought "How does she have such a great ass?" and also "What does it mean to her to show it to us?"
Other thoughts: "I could never??" and "She seems to genuinely love it, good for her."
I actually made a video of myself putting lotion on my ass but I haven't decided whether or not to post it. Feels pretty porny lol
I’m here for this journey of yours 😁
I can totally resonate with this feeling. Refreshing, and very cool of you, to write about this!
Thank you! I like your substack name. I am intrigued.
Love how you came full circle ⭕️ by sticking with it and not quitting on yourself. You’re a badass, too.
Thank you :) This is very kind.
I have felt this same thing sitting in the audience of an author I adore spoke on stage at an event. I thought - I could fucking do that too. Except I’m not a multi book published much loved author. Instead I just dared to start a substack even if barely no one reads it. I am on team adoration for “all fours” life altering lightning bolt type stuff. Love this post, it’s like I can see it swirling in your brain.
aw thank you! I also just dared to start this substack that nobody reads. Except for this one post lol
I like your post better than Miranda July.
I await the photo/video of you applying oil wherever it makes you smile.
No kids here, but 51 and ass not plump, and very similar reaction. Thank you for writing this!
Julie, what a fabulous post! Great humor and insight, great writing. Thanks. I'll be checking out more.....
Aw thank you 🙏
This is so awesome. I feel all those feelings too. Side note: I just told my husband one of our 2 favorite characters from OITNB liked my note! Well, the actress, not the character—I get that. But as a mom/writer myself I am in awe of YOU. And all you’ve done, more so even than of Miranda July. So…I hope we both love ourselves a little more or whatever.
Good writing here. I’ll be honest, I forgot about Miranda July, who I had to google, but I will give her major props for “Me, You, and Everyone We Know.” Which, admittedly, is a brilliant movie. I used to own that movie on DVD and it’s somewhere in a sleeve, in a box, with other movies I haven’t seen in ages, like “Swingers,” “Good Night and Good Luck,” and a bunch of random surf movies from the 90’s with punk soundtracks.
I used to watch these when I, too, lived in LA, maybe a semi-favorite city, behind Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. Now I live in the Midwest and am currently blanketed in snow.
I don’t think of that movie or July often anymore, but when I do I think of one sublime scene. There’s a small, precocious and cute, black kid, whose exact role I can’t particularly recall, but I remember he talks about his fantasy of pooping with someone, “back and forth,” with the poop moving between the two parties, human centipede style, but between the respective butts “forever”. Absolutely genius writing, acting, and concept in that scene. So if I were to imagine her butt, it wouldn’t be slathered in yogic oils, but rather locked in the infinite poop. Which is still pretty cool.
Omg THAT MOVIE was Miranda July? I just recently read All Fours and loved it, but I never would’ve made that connection!