I don't consider performance art to have a statement without some sort of defecation involved.
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Emma Sulkowicz's (Columbia mattress girl) New Art Project is a Sex Tape- Jezebel link
- Thread starter Tom_Cody
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Yea, I don't think her saying 'it's not about THIS rape' should be taken at face value.
Corronchilejano
Member
I don't think it's that really...
So, it's not about the 2012 event...
The piece is to make the viewer reflect upon himself and how he/she views context.
So, it's not about her rape, but why is she saying "if you watch this video without my consent"? Should the video be watched only as itself, ignoring the context of her existence? Is consent only granted to those desiring to watch the video under her terms? That means, we should just watch her video as someone having sex, consensual sex, and that's it.
If we look from outside, it looks like this woman must be having a breakdown, but I've never been able to have an artists mind, so I'm not sure what the point of this piece is. Disconnect yourself from context?
maquiladora
Member
That's not strange at all. I'll be honest, I'm not quite sure I understand what she is doing with this particular video after reading the text on the site, but I do know that it is quite common for some rape victims to have consensual "rape fantasies" with a desire to re-enact scenes with a partner in an attempt to regain control over these events, events which they previously had no control over.
dream
Member
I think at this point, she and her story has been so discredited that all we can do is laugh.
StriKeVillain
Banned
That's largely the reason why I didn't think the texts proved the event didn't occur; I can understand people acting in ways that might be seen by outsiders as irrational after an event like the one that she alleges transpired. This, though, just seems bizarre to me. The mattress thing made sense as a protest, but this directly leapfrogs on the fame she acquired from that for ... what? To prove that people are perverts?
This is so incredibly confusing.
I got a chance to watch it last night.. now I'm confused if I was supposed to watch it or not, from her perspective. With the thing about "without my consent." (not that I would feel bad either way, I honestly didn't even know what I was clicking on, or whether it was a joke or not)
For those who can't get the video to load.. it's a 4 camera security footage view of a blowjob, followed by missionary sex that turns violent.
I really don't get it; but some of her rambling makes me wonder if she is mentally ill so I'm not going to judge her.
My only guess is; is this video about how watching violent objectification porn is in support of rape? I don't watch porn like that.. even if it's the willing smiling participant kind, let alone the fake rape porn that you can find out there... it's gross but it's within people's rights to make it.. I do think asking questions about porn like that is healthy though. People should at least have that conversation in their head if they are going to watch violent porn.
I got a chance to watch it last night.. now I'm confused if I was supposed to watch it or not, from her perspective. With the thing about "without my consent." (not that I would feel bad either way, I honestly didn't even know what I was clicking on, or whether it was a joke or not)
For those who can't get the video to load.. it's a 4 camera security footage view of a blowjob, followed by missionary sex that turns violent.
I really don't get it; but some of her rambling makes me wonder if she is mentally ill so I'm not going to judge her.
My only guess is; is this video about how watching violent objectification porn is in support of rape? I don't watch porn like that.. even if it's the willing smiling participant kind, let alone the fake rape porn that you can find out there... it's gross but it's within people's rights to make it.. I do think asking questions about porn like that is healthy though. People should at least have that conversation in their head if they are going to watch violent porn.
bobbychalkers
Member
Exactly how I'm feeling right now.
I think that's going too far.
Tornado Condor
Member
Wait, so this girl was sexually assaulted before? Cause from what I've read, the incident that lead to the matress thing wasn't sexual assault.
Now I'm confused
Now I'm confused
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
Is this the case where they guy filed that countersuit against the school?
Just because it's there to see doesn't mean it's yours to take.
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
I can't imagine this doesn't involve her getting directly sued by the alleged assailant given he's already going after the university for a ton of money for letting the original mattress display go off.
Maybe that's the reason why she's saying it not related to her assault?
ThreePiMatt
Member
I am not giving you consent to read this post.
That said, it was pulled down from that website and the YouTube mirror naturally was also taken down. Ironically (or maybe not), you basically have to go to a porn site to watch this now. Its up on PornHub, and to be honest if this is "performance art" so is the multitude of other armature homemade sex videos out there that does basically the same thing.
Palette Swap
Member
I think that's the whole point of "Ceci n'est pas un viol": this is not a rape, as opposed to "this rape". Hiding a mixed signal beneath a reference or something.
So, if we fourth wall the video and view it as an act between actors under direction... that's the non-rapey way of viewing it.
If we view it as though it was a rape, and our viewership of it was a a form of voyeuristic titilation (emotional reaction), then we participate in her rape/objectification/non consent?
Well... she certainly knows how to stir the pot and get attention. Not sure if she can transition into a Kardashian like career with this sex-tape though.
No... ok, so that's not the interpretation? she's just trying to say that your willingness to seek this sex vid out makes you complicit to rape culture? Really?
If we view it as though it was a rape, and our viewership of it was a a form of voyeuristic titilation (emotional reaction), then we participate in her rape/objectification/non consent?
Well... she certainly knows how to stir the pot and get attention. Not sure if she can transition into a Kardashian like career with this sex-tape though.
No... ok, so that's not the interpretation? she's just trying to say that your willingness to seek this sex vid out makes you complicit to rape culture? Really?
I think the point of "this is not rape" is that it is a reenactment of an incident that Columbia deemed to not be rape. And she's trying to let viewers make their own judgement.
When I roomed with some people while at SCAD there was one girl that loved to put penises into all her works, models, paintings, sculpts, everything. After living with her for a year you realize that society warrants you to take people at face value but some people just really enjoy getting shock value out of people and will take advantage of that. Regardless of mental illness or trauma.
That's not a specific commentary on what did or didn't happen with this woman but how people function and decide to handle situations and their life.
That's not a specific commentary on what did or didn't happen with this woman but how people function and decide to handle situations and their life.
CapitalismSucks DonkeyBalls
Banned
Most art with penises is pretty tame these days. Hell, I'm more disturbed by Giger's works than I am seeing penises in paintings. Because Giger's penises could kill me.
Dai Kaiju
Member
Quit your art-shaming.
SoulUnison
Banned
I'm wracking my brain trying to think of a justification or an angle to come at this from that would seem like a good idea to her, even if it's opaque to everyone else, and I just can't.
I think she's unstable, which would be unfortunate, but understandable.
Worst case, she's just desperate for attention and felt like her 15 minutes were almost up.
But she "warns that the video is not a recreation of the events in August 2012, a reference to the night Sulkowicz claims she was raped by fellow Columbia student, Paul Nungesser."
It's like there was the one avenue possible to make sense of this and she specifically denies it.
I think she's unstable, which would be unfortunate, but understandable.
Worst case, she's just desperate for attention and felt like her 15 minutes were almost up.
But she "warns that the video is not a recreation of the events in August 2012, a reference to the night Sulkowicz claims she was raped by fellow Columbia student, Paul Nungesser."
It's like there was the one avenue possible to make sense of this and she specifically denies it.
I don't really get performance art, but this seems pretty straightforward. Good for her. The mental illness discrediting in this thread seems a bit transparent to me in their ulterior motives but whatever.
It's a penis. Who cares?
It's a penis. Who cares?
whoops dp
It's art. People draw on their own experiences to make art. Do I think it's good art? I don't know, I don't particularly care.
Do I think this makes her unstable or desperate for attention? No.
She's not the only person accusing Paul of rape. I'm sure she had plenty of college campus rape scenarios to choose from. Also, she probably doesn't want to get sued.
It's art. People draw on their own experiences to make art. Do I think it's good art? I don't know, I don't particularly care.
(Okay, I don't think it's particularly good art.)
She's not the only person accusing Paul of rape. I'm sure she had plenty of college campus rape scenarios to choose from. Also, she probably doesn't want to get sued.
Palette Swap
Member
Now that you mention it, it seems obvious.
The giant pat on the back you are giving yourself for claiming this is straightforward to you is fare more transparent. Nudge nudge wink wink, hey I didn't actually insult you!
What in the world is straightforward about this?
"If you watch this video without my consent, then I hope you reflect on your reasons for objectifying me and participating in my rape"
It's sexual violence labeled "not rape." Like I said, I don't think it's particularly good—in part because of all the extra disclaimers attached to it that muddy its meaning. But I do think it's straightforward.
People make art drawing off their own experiences all the time. But it's only in this case where it makes her crazy or mentally ill or an attention whore? That's the part that I take issue with.
You just don't understand art. You've never sacrificed for your work.
dream
Member
I think the checklist that follows makes it very straightforward:
In her desperate need to cling to her victimhood, she implicates everyone. When she can no longer credibly claim to have been raped by Paul Nungesser, she constructs a scenario in which she can accuse all of us of raping her.
It's actually kind of brilliant in a terrifying way.
I sacrificed my time surely that's something.
vagabondarts
Member
It's hard to spin off public crazy episodes into "performance art", but many people have successfully done it.
That being said, you can always tell who the spoiled rich kids are. The ones who believe they are special snowflakes compared to the people who have studied a craft for years, refining it to say more with less and create something that impacts people.
That being said, you can always tell who the spoiled rich kids are. The ones who believe they are special snowflakes compared to the people who have studied a craft for years, refining it to say more with less and create something that impacts people.
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
Assuredly, but a Court wouldn't buy that if it was going to find in his favor.
After reading the article I get her intention but I still see this as a misfire. Gangbangs and putting people on (not)torture racks is a thing. Some guy (or gal) looking at this for entertainment isn't going to second guess themselves anymore than they did the first time they experimented with something similar.
Maybe the way she does her video is very different from similar porn videos to make her video more poignant but at 8 minutes I have my doubts.
Ok now I understand she was being sarcastic. I was very confused at how she could even say with a straight face this has no allusions to her rape. Thanks.
In light of this, I actually like the thought behind the project.
Maybe the way she does her video is very different from similar porn videos to make her video more poignant but at 8 minutes I have my doubts.
Ok now I understand she was being sarcastic. I was very confused at how she could even say with a straight face this has no allusions to her rape. Thanks.
In light of this, I actually like the thought behind the project.
D
Deleted member 1235
Unconfirmed Member
its art!
It's both muddy and straightforward...
You didn't comment on the part I quoted that a lot of people are confused on. It sounds like the rambling of someone who isn't all there; I say that with compassion yet somehow I transparently have some motive according to you.
The video itself isn't confusing to me, her text is. The video itself doesn't make me think she might be mentally ill, the text does.
TatteredHat
Member
I am disgusted.
Okay, fair enough. I don't agree that it's ramble-y, I just think it's a cliche to say "we are all part of rape culture, we are all complicit" because it weakens her argument. It's preaching to the choir, everyone else is just going to roll their eyes and check out. I don't think it makes her mentally ill, because this is pretty usual fare when it comes to art—the goal of making the audience complicit. Of course, most artists don't try to do it with a checklist. It makes her a bad artist.
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