My Genogram Project

As part of the requirements for my Master's Degree, I am enrolled in a class called Intergenerational Dynamics. The big project for this class involves making (and analyzing) a genogram which is like an expanded family tree. More engaging to look at than a family tree, the genogram is a pictorial, narrative diagram as told by a key person.

Sure, certain genogram elements like dates and names are factual and set in stone. The bones of my genogram reflect this truth. Personality, perception, temperament, mental health, religion, relationship, etc. can actually vary and are also depicted. The collage layers, the flesh, will go on top of the aforementioned bones to reflect this "truth".

Artistically these concepts are nothing new. Abstract art, Meta-Collage, Surrealism and other forms, all rely on the truth derived from context to assign meaning. Remember Exquisite Cadaver? The surrealists loved to play with "truth". They would create art to bend time (Dali) or suspend time (Magritte) and play with time (Chirico).

I, the key person in my genogram, move within (and really beyond) my family system automatically oriented to my truth. Often I choose to orient myself according to others' truth and sometimes I will even absorb others' truth as my own. This genogram will depict my context, my meaning, my truth in relation to others. Here are the bones. I'll post photos as I flesh it out. Wish me luck!

Patterns are already apparent. Notice how at all 16 of my Great-Greats were immigrants (two wavy red lines) who lived in two cultures (additional red line) and that all of the marriages depicted have lasted until death.