Genie

Most people know about Genie or at least have learned about her briefly in school. She was found in the early 70s at age thirteen, having spent most of her life in almost total isolation. I made this video using parts of actual footage of her as she progressed, and my point is really to try to bring attention to what a tragedy her life was. Not only was she severely abused by her family, but after making progress with her doctors and therapists she was returned to her mother to live in the same house she'd been abused in. After her mother realized she couldn't care for her, Genie was placed in foster care and group homes, where she regressed. Worst of all, her mother faught to make sure that the doctors and therapists that cared so deeply for her (and who had become like parents to her) were not able to see her anymore.
The song I used is Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees", which may seem out of place, but bear with me: Genie had an obsession with collecting anything plastic. She loved playing with and organizing plastic objects. I know the song isn't really about that, but every time I hear it I think about her and the comfort she got from her plastic collections.
This is a story I think everyone needs to know about, not just because she taught us about development and language but because we were unable to save her from further abuse. For more information, read "Genie: A Scientific Tragedy" by Russ Rymer, which is the most in-depth portrait of her you'll find.*

I used three separate documentaries to make this video:
-BBC Horizon: Genie
-Nova: Secret of the Wild Child
-TLC: Wild Child

*This is all just my opinion. I'm not an expert or anything.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Genie
• Susan
• Wiley
• tragedy
• linguistics
• child
• abuse
• feral
• children
• isolation
• Radiohead
• Fake
• Plastic
• Trees
• special
• needs

[yksnimus]

gimmie a resume, I dont get it..

[maeghan1edits]

@yksnimus What?

[Questpeace]

How does a song about plastic surgery/ the state of beauty in the Western world relate to her situation at all?

[maeghan1edits]

@Questpeace I explained my choice of song in the description.

[danibabixx]

It makes me sick to see what type of a world we live in. This beautiful girl didn't do anything wrong yet she was tortured for years and years. And even after she was found they used her for all sorts of tests. How about you just look after her and take care of her like she deserves.

[xlovemeonlyme]

How the fuck does this shit happen? How?!? People are the worst I tell ya.

[evilpotatoattack]

Genie...You are beautiful...I ask for your forgiveness....forgive what we people have done to you...I apologise to you....

I'm so so sorry....

[JustAnotherBeardo]

I really liked your commentary on this video and I love this memorial for poor lovely tragic Genie. I agree with you the tone of the song fits its has a slow sad quality even thought those who love their radio head, may not get it I hope the understand the genuinely kind and sweet purpose that you have put to their song. The tragedy and absurdity of the whole situation with her life was something that for folks like me who got degrees in both psychology and philosophy, find dumbfounding.

[caljustcal]

@Hopihe37 as far as i can tell no one has replied to you in the six months since asking this question. but, basically, it's not a case of whether or not people care enough to save her. it's all to do with psychological attachment theories and privation. human infants have a critical period during their first couple of years in which they must form an emotional attachment to a primary caregiver that will reciprocate. this is how we learn behaviour. after that window closes impossible to develop.

[caljustcal]

just defending psychologists such as Curtiss and Rymer seeming as there's a bunch of comments criticising 'tests' performed on Genie. First of all, they were natural observations. there were no independent variables, nothing was done to her. they watched and recorded, all the while taking the utmost care to look after her. the conclusions they drew from what is an extremely rare privation case were for the greater good. to try and treat people as unfortunate as her.

[caljustcal]

@Rudenko3 you know she's not dead right?

[AquanautST]

so i'm watching this documentary and the story of Genie comes up - heart breaking sh*t I cant believe what some are capable of smh...

[Rudenko3]

Its sad her life got ruined. Makes your appreciate what you have. May she live the best life in heaven.

[Inyourfacebro]

@fantard100 They had a mental illness?:L Not all people who commit crimes have mental illnesses. He probably shot himself out of guilt or because he didn't wanna live anymore because of his rep after genie was found.