The Ditch

“The Ditch” by Lauren Cohen, self published in 2022 
 
The Ditch is a metaphor for every hole we may find ourselves in; the depths of which are very real. How we dig ourselves out and expose the layers of truth uncover faults in society and, over time, quakes tangible change. 

Artist, Lauren Cohen, grew up next to the original home of the 1692 witch trial minister, Samuel Parris. Patriarchal control reigned supreme in Puritan New England and the strict obedience to a man’s dictatorship was concrete. Violence, rape, murder and power commonly start within the foundations of the home. We can see in the waves of the #metoo movement that much more work must be done. The ‘hysterical’ behavior of the women in this book reference the people of Old Salem Village and parallel Cohen’s own repressed, strict upbringing. Despite the distance of time, trauma still develops. However, hope is possible for those who are unwilling to be buried alive in an early grave. With self reflection, awareness, communication and teamwork, it can be done. This book wouldn’t have been made if the artist didn’t believe it to be true.