Lecture Notes: Who Is the Bad Art Friend? - The New York Times

Overview

This article by Robert Kolker, published in The New York Times Magazine, explores the complex and contentious case between two writers, Dawn Dorland and Sonya Larson, centered around a kidney donation and its subsequent fictionalization. The story delves into themes of art, authorship, friendship, race, and plagiarism.

Key Characters

• Dawn Dorland

  • An essayist and aspiring novelist.
  • Donated a kidney altruistically, starting a Facebook group to share the experience.
  • Feels her donation was plagiarized by Larson.

• Sonya Larson

  • A writer who used her fiction to explore complex themes.
  • Allegedly inspired by Dorland's kidney donation for her story "The Kindest."

Timeline of Events

• June 24, 2015: Dorland donates a kidney as a nondirected donation, shares her journey in a private Facebook group.
• July 2015: Dorland reaches out to Larson, noticing a lack of acknowledgment about her kidney donation.
• June 24, 2016: Dorland hears from a mutual friend about Larson's story allegedly inspired by her donation.
• July 2016: Dorland confronts Larson about the story, leading to a tense email exchange.
• 2017: "The Kindest," a story by Larson, is published, leading Dorland to believe it plagiarizes her letter.
• 2018: Dorland considers legal action after discovering her letter was used verbatim in an earlier audio version of Larson's story.

Major Themes

• Art and Life: The boundaries between drawing inspiration from life and crossing into using someone else's personal experiences.
• Plagiarism and Copyright: Legal and ethical questions about how much of Dorland’s letter was used and whether it constitutes infringement.
• Race and Privilege: Larson's work often explores racial dynamics, which adds another layer to the conflict.
• Friendship and Community: Trust and betrayal among members of a writing community.

Legal Developments

• 2018: Dorland takes legal action, sending cease-and-desist letters and hiring a lawyer.
• 2019: Larson sues Dorland for defamation and tortious interference.

Court Arguments

• Dorland: Claims Larson’s story violates the copyright of her letter.
• Larson: Defends that her story is a fictional work, transformative, and not about Dorland.

Personal and Community Reactions

• Emails and Texts: Revelations of private messages among Larson's writing group criticizing and mocking Dorland.
• Larson’s Defense: Larson argues her story is not about Dorland and criticizes the personal attacks.

Conclusion

The article portrays a deep conflict between two writers, raising questions about the ethics of artistic inspiration and the intersection of personal experiences with creative expression. The case remains unresolved, highlighting the complexities of intellectual property in the realm of personal narratives.