K8e Orr: An Old Fashioned Love Song

In her show “Just an Old Fashioned Love Song”, K8e uses iconography that evokes tales of euphoric feelings of love had, and the desperation of love lost reflected in the human experience.  Both love and hate are intricately linked in the brain and share overlapping neural circuits despite being opposite emotions. This show is about the complex relationship between these feelings. They are both processed through the same region of the brain, the insula. This brain region helps regulate emotional experiences, such as physical and visceral reactions tied to strong emotions. The overlap may be due to the evolutionary importance of both emotions in forming and maintaining relationships. Love fosters connection and cooperation. Hate can arise, becoming a protective mechanism against perceived threats and betrayal. Both emotions require focus and motivation which is why they share some of the same neurological pathways. This proximity helps explain why strong emotions in relationships can shift her from love to hate and vice versa. The transition between the two often feels intense because the same brain systems are being engaged, just in different ways. Understanding this connection highlights the nuanced nature of human emotions and their shared foundations. Love and hate are choreographed by the same neural music. Not strangers but siblings sharing the stage, both with performances that are captivating and consuming. They act as mirrors reflecting our deepest longing and fears. To feel one, we must risk the other, and when we open our hearts to connection we are always inviting the possibility of rejection. Within this paradox lies the beauty of being human - the courage to embrace love knowing it dances hand in hand with its darker sibling, creating meaning from the exquisite tension between the two.