Is It My Body?

by Kim Gordon, Branden W. Joseph (Editor)

Throughout the 1980s and early ’90s, Kim Gordon—widely known as a founding member of the influential band Sonic Youth—produced a series of writings on art and music. Ranging from neo-Conceptual artworks to broader forms of cultural criticism, these rare texts are brought together in this volume for the first time, placing Gordon’s writing within the context of the artist-critics of her generation, including Mike Kelley, John Miller, and Dan Graham. In addressing key stakes within contemporary art, architecture, music, and the performance of male and female gender roles, Gordon provides a prescient analysis of such figures as Kelley, Glenn Branca, Rhys Chatham, Tony Oursler, and Raymond Pettibon, in addition to reflecting on her own position as a woman on stage. The result—Is It My Body?—is a collection that feels as timely now as when it was written. This volume additionally features a conversation between Gordon and Jutta Koether, in which they discuss their collaborations in art, music, and performance.

Genres: Music, Art, Essays, Nonfiction, Feminism

182 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Kim Althea Gordon is an American musician, vocalist, and artist. She sings, plays bass and guitar in the alternative rock band Sonic Youth. She also plays in the band Free Kitten with Julie Cafritz (of Pussy Galore), and she has collaborated with musicians such as Ikue Mori, Kurt Cobain, DJ Olive, William Winant, Lydia Lunch, Alan Licht, and Chris Corsano.

Reviews

[maria jose casazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

inmediatamente agregado a la lista de libros que quiero que existan en la colección de traducciones de alias

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. For the start of this I was so tired I wasn’t really understanding. Had a Pattie Smith vibe except more of a focus on the music and gender roles/sexuality which was a good change up. I feel like it definitely deserves a re-read at some point.

[Sunny :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the introduction and the back cover oversell what this is. It's fine. It's a collection of disparate essays in a format that doesn't really do them any favors. There are conversations that do a sort of meta-analysis of space and work that's interesting, but ultimately kind of disappointing. I felt that the discussions of womanhood and queerness were lacking (they sure did happen) unfortunately. This feels like a very "you had to be there" text, and because I wasn't there, I'm left wanting.

[chrizszta · Rating 3 out of 5]

i love kim gordon and there were some cool parts but a lot dragged a bit for me personally, some of the essays felt dull and prob would benefit more from being read closer to the time they were written.. my favorites were her tour diaries and interviews

shoutout to marisa for getting me a signed copy though<3

[Cleo Sood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insane. An archival text. The coolest, obvi

[Alastair Hudson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Sonic Youth back in the 80's and it's good reading KG's backstory and life on tour.
It's also interesting learning about her extension into experimental art and life on tour.

But whilst I love music and art, far too many editors take books like this and turn them something into boredom. The initial collection of Kim's writings are faithfully transcribed with all the awkward spelling mistakes as if it' were some sacred text (spelling mistakes and bad punctuation intact). Footnotes are added and it's turned into a bad dull academic text.

Luckily a transcribed discussion between Kim and Jutta Koether about the art scene and the "happenings" in 90's New York so loved by art students turn this into a little gem.

[nervousyoungsam · Rating 4 out of 5]

i think some of the art stuff went over my head but the music stuff was cool!

[Jacqueline Valencia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Most of my heroes don't appear in no stamps.." - Public Enemy, "Fight The Power"

That quote is a driving phrase and one often pops up in my brain when I think of my female superheroes. Sure, women are everywhere in media, in the entertainment-sphere. In the music-sphere I'm often given descriptors of the way female musicians look rather than an exploration on their talent. It's disconcerting because a lot of the time I want to know the driving power of the female musician instead of what she carries in her make up case. You'd expect make up talk by a beauty/fashion publication to advertise certain brands, but not a music magazine.

I ordered Kim Gordon's Is It My Body? through the Sternberg Press website. Kim Gordon has always been enigmatic to me. Her bass stance in Sonic Youth made me get up and take notice. Her vocals have always felt like sardonic response to the world. Banging my head in my room to Goo, I'd put my hair in front on my face and air bass, trying pose in that oh so cool Gordon stance. I wouldn't even dance. Just stand there bobbing my head as if I was in a trance.

Is It My Body? is a collection of Gordon's art, art critiques, music writing, and interviews. With the allure of rock and roll clouding most of what is known of Gordon, it's a fascinating insight into her art school roots and her keen critical mind.

The book starts off with "Proposal for A Story," texts written in 1977 that are reproduced from 35mm slides as part of an installation. Each texts mentions a setting and plot for a story, much like the summaries you find in TV Guide. Gordon fuses each line with a dry wit.

"...Teenagers caught up in a sexual assault

Intense adult relationship

Steamy soap opera including a strong abortion scene

Violent, grueling

Grisly, shocking effects

Heavily sexual..."- Gordon, Kim, and Branden Wayne Joseph. "Proposal For A Story." Is it my body?: selected texts. Berlin: Sternberg Press, 2014. . Print.

Reminiscent of Sol Le Witt visual art recipes, Proposal is both conceptual and feels like a parody of the conceptual. You can almost imagine Gordon's descriptors in various shades of seriousness and comedy with the contrast within the texts. There is beauty in the skeleton of the stories which would be interesting to explore in a writing or film writing scenario.

"Trash Drugs and Male Bonding" showcases Gordon's illuminating views of masculine on stage expressions.

"For a minute Jules seems overwhelmed by the density as he watches Rhys [Rhys Chatham]intently rocking rocking back and forth towards the audience, and Robert, who seems to have taken Wharton on as a partner in crime. Jules starts his playing where you least expect it, it becomes asymmetrical. airy; rhythmic forms uncompleted."- Gordon, Kim, and Branden Wayne Joseph. "Trash Drugs and Male Bonding." Is it my body?: selected texts. Berlin: Sternberg Press, 2014. . Print.



Gordon is attuned to the spectacle of the moment, in turn, capturing the sparks that come off the stage in Chatham's performance. Similarly, in "I'm Really Scared When I Kill My Dreams," Gordon analyses the continually evolving club atmosphere and the artistic and proprietary appropriation of those spaces. While Public Image Limited reduces itself to projected shadows on the screen, Laurie Anderson controls the club space, a space that would traditionally try to control her instead.

"Anderson's androgynous appearance and mechanical voice create an impression of organized perfection, expressing the ideal as non-sexual. She has created her own atmosphere of mastering and mimicking a technology that is usually mystifying." - Gordon, Kim, and Branden Wayne Joseph. "I'm Really Scared When I Kill My Dreams." Is it my body?: selected texts. Berlin: Sternberg Press, 2014. . Print.

It speaks to the music industry's ever tenuous reach of art within the musician. The magical inveiglement of the talented can be harnessed, but it thrives in its persistent rebellion, leading instead of following its constructed brand. The club space is a place to perform, excite, sell, to fuck (or to give the allusion of the dirty fuck), to express, and play out. Ingenious live sets take all of these elements, subverting them to create a universe of endless possibilities sometimes breaking the mirrors of the ego and the id to expose a greater magic in its artistic natures. Gordon notes that high art becomes a conscious button pushed in the music club, one outside the studio industry's grasp. She further explores these concepts in further articles in the book, in more architecturally minded views, particularly in the Los Angeles art spaces in "Turning The Conversation."


Among her writings on Raymond Pettibon (also Charles Manson as a big influence on Southern California art), and segueing into artists and musicians that intrigue her senses, Gordon includes a bit of a Sonic Youth tour diary in "Boys Are Smelly."

"When Iggy Pop came on stage in Naugatuck (or was it London?) to sing "I Wanna Be Your Dog," Lee and Thurston were ready to rock. I was amazed that he was so professional. He expressed the freakiness of being a woman and an entertainer. I felt like such a cream puff next to him. I didn't know what to do, so I just sort of watched." - Gordon, Kim, and Branden Wayne Joseph. "Boys Are Smelly." Is it my body?: selected texts. Berlin: Sternberg Press, 2014. . Print.

Her honest reaction in watching Iggy Pop perform is relatable and she condenses in a telling way in a different version of the text written for a "Sensational Fix" catalogue. Her feelings and cognizance of the contrasts and ability to blur those contrasts gender and performance are sharply refreshing. I highly recommend the final interviews included towards the end of the book and compare them back to Gordon's perception into celebrity. When people interview her its quite neat to see that she knows how people see her, but also how she empowers herself by making it a skin that can be easily shed.

If you're looking for a rock and roll tale, there is some of that in here, but it's more than that. Reading Is It My Body? explores Kim Gordon as the conceptual artist who continues to critically poke at the rock and roll exterior with a penetrating poetic sword.

[chantel nouseforaname · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yo, I think I’m infatuated with Kim Gordon’s writing. I enjoy her perspective, especially the tour diary, which was endlessly illuminating. I love her conversations with others and have a lot of thoughts about her fascination and leaning into this public down-trodding of Madonna. I find it fascinating what a lot of folks have to say about 80’s Madonna. Especially women in music, when they lean towards people talking shit about her or undercutting her influence. Yes, sometimes she was a culture vulture, but she was also on the cutting edge, and that should never be underestated in my opinion.

Gordon has some really distinct thoughts about NYC, the music, the scenes, the art, she taught me some things I didn’t know about Andy Warhol and his contributions to the NYC club experience that has translated internationally. Anyway, I picked this book up at P&T Knitwear in the lower east side while out book shopping with friends and I’m glad that I did. I read it completely out of order, and I’m glad that I did. I love the photos, I love the art. It’s good. I would have gave it five stars, but there were things that I had issues with that I’m still working through mentally, and that’s that.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great selection of texts! Good art writing and writing about art. No Wave, interiors and apartments and the rise of rock clubs and art parties, Alice Cooper, Mike Kelley, Swans, Reena Spaulings, SONIC YOUTH; Kim Gordon was THERE but she also is HERE thinking and articulating on the page! Must have been fun to catch these pieces "live" when they were "performed" on the pages of magazines and catalogues, but it's even better to have them all collected and selected in one volume, showing a beautiful arc of a thought as it travels with and through Kim Gordon as she travels within and through the art world then the pop world then the art world again.

Faves: "I'm Really Scared When I Kill in My Dreams," Is It My Body?, Forget M/M K/T is the Trip, American Prayers, Making the Nature Scene: Rock Clubs in New York, Boys are Smelly, Honeymoon Habit

[Amelia Rooney · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Some parts of this I enjoyed, but I was definitely under the impression that this would have more of a feminist approach to the sexualisation of women in the 80s music industry instead of just talking about specific music and artworks dated at the time.

Gordon seems to have this need to sound incredibly academic in her art and I can respect but it really felt odd in her voicing. Her journals seemed so lifeless and state-of-fact that I struggled linking it together at times.

Albeit, some of it was interesting, but more so her lyrics and poetry I found the most interesting. Definitely see how this can appeal to big Sonic Youth fans (obviously) but I don’t think I knew enough about them to like this essay collection enough.

I’d also reshuffle the heck out of this because why are the 2 interviews all the way at the end.

Did get some fun playlist adds tho. So there’s more positives.

[Book Grocer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purchase Is It My Body here for just $20!

Rock Star Kim Gordon can do it all and this book is a collection of her cultural criticism. This is a great look at the art world, told through the lens of a major artist herself.

Elisa - The Book Grocer

[Pablo Rendón · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serie de artículos, diarios, entrevistas y charlas recopilados por Sternberg Press que dan testimonio de la educación artística, y por tanto sentimental, de Kim Gordon. Una breve pero encantador repaso a todo el universo Gordoniano: Mike Kelley, Dan Graham, Jutta Koether, Rita Ackermann, Richard Prince, Glenn Branca y desde luego Sonic Youth.

[Caitlin Clift · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably should have started my Gordon literary journey with Girl in a Band. This one was definitely more from the art world for the art world, felt a bit underwhelming for me but I will always adore her !

[katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, a little too academic because of the editing and some Design Office stuff went over my head lol

[Liam Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘The most heightened state of being female is watching others watch you’ - interesting double edged sword on crab mentality and policing vs. overt hypersexualisation (and if they’re the same thing)

[Maurice Funken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Besides her career in music Kim Gordon is an artist herself and was naturally into art as well. A bit less known is the fact that she wrote about it, too. The book assembles some early texts by Gordon, about specific exhibitions she's seen, the idea of gender in popular culture, sometimes shedding light on friends from the art scene, like Mike Kelley, or places where art and music interacted. These pieces sometimes tend to be hard to read, as they're understandably very subject-specific. Far more interesting is the talk with Jutta Koether, which gives insight into their shared work practice and views of the art world. All in all, Kim Gordon as an art critic and theorist has to be rediscovered, but it might be worth your time...

[Jay Hinman · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's hard to find much fault with Saint Kim, a renaissance woman who's been a constant in my underground music and culture-obsessed life for over thirty years during her time with Sonic Youth, multiple side bands and a wide variety of fashion, art, filmmaking and other endeavors. Everyone loves Kim, right? But hey, can she sling together a group of sentences in an edifying and entertaining manner? I wasn't actually sure, so I bought this German-pressed collection of some of her writings from the 1980s up to just a year or two ago in hopes of finding out. She's got an autobiography due out soon as well, so I reckoned I'd get a jump on that by poring through the tour diaries, art theorizing, semiotics and cultural criticisms that are speckled throughout this small volume.

Let it be said that while Ms. Gordon loses no overall cultural luster from this collection of her writings, I wouldn't recommend that you actually spend any more than a few minutes browsing it in a bookstore. Actually reading it? It's not easy, let me tell ya. See, Kim Gordon comes from the art world. She often, but not always, writes like people from the art world - insular, impenetrable, overblown and for fellow travelers only. She doesn't come off as pompous, not really; she merely confirms what a blowhard world that of high art and even mid-brow art is. So you might see it as guilt by association; I instead choose to see her mimicry of the art/academic written aesthetic something that just comes with the territory when you're jawboning to a closed circle. Heaven forbid that someone try and penetrate the purple prose of the elite. Why even bother talking down to those who'd deign to try?

That said, I liked her piece on Raymond Pettibon, as well as a 1985 Artforum piece in which she works over Southern California hardcore punk like a real pro. There's a late 80s Sonic Youth tour diary as well, and then a series of pieces and interviews that over-intellectualizes that which should be relatively straightforward: Glenn Branca, Harry Crews and Mike Kelley, for instance. I assure you, I'm no philistine, but I'm easily fed up with the needlessly pompous and/or "transgressive", and this book gets me no closer to resolving my antipathy to that world. Here's hoping her next book's more in keeping with the as-yet-untoppled mental alter I've built for her.

[Full Stop]

http://www.full-stop.net/2014/03/27/r...

Is It My Body? – Kim Gordon

by Hestia Peppe

[Sternberg; 2014]

Ed. Branden W. Joseph

Kim Gordon is an historical node from which many chains of influence and association are traced. Kim Gordon had Kathleen Hanna’s back, was a friend and mentor to Kurt Cobain and produced Hole’s Pretty On The Inside. Kim Gordon is a legend. A kind of Godmother to Riot Grrl, often presented or understood as the ‘token’ girl in the band, Gordon has been framed by the mainstream as an exception despite the explosion of experimental female talent her generation produced. But Kim Gordon has also always worked as an artist. Is It My Body?: Selected Texts published by Sternberg Press is a tomboy manifesto written in fragments, slow motion over 36 years, a collection of Gordon’s critical essays and conceptual texts from 1977 to 2013. Its publication marks what seems to be the beginning of efforts to reframe the narrative of Kim Gordon.

The texts collected here are impressively thematically coherent. So much so that it is easy to forget they were written years apart. The chronological distribution of their publication is such that a reader would have had to have very closely followed Gordon’s activities outside of Sonic Youth to be aware of all of this work, which until now functioned essentially as subtext in plain sight. Remarkable though the continuity between these texts is, considering how Gordon’s perspective must have changed between pieces written so sporadically, this continuity is dangerous. It is easy to forget the changing historical contexts in which they were written, how much a person changes from one year to the next and that though they may retain interest in similar themes, their relationship to those themes is altered by experience.

Read the rest here: http://www.full-stop.net/2014/03/27/r...

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

There has been an orchestrated effort to (re)cast Kim Gordon as a multidisciplinary artist straddling the worlds of visual art, music, and writing, but as I find the quality of her work patchy in all three, I cannot help but feel there is a lot of PR involved in the fabrication of Gordon's role and importance as a cultural figure. The more I reflect on this writing collection, the more disappointed I feel. The subjects vary from her early Fluxus-inspired writing/objects, her space design projects, visual artist peers, but offer few insights. The pieces that work best are "I'm Really Scared When I Kill in My Dreams" which covers the no wave music scene vis a vis Glenn Branca, and "Boys are Smelly: Sonic Youth Tour Diary, '87", which consists of her notes while on tour with Sonic Youth, with candid comments on tour mates Swans, various venues around the States, and the differences in audience members in different cities.

[Tosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little snapshot of what was happening in the world of the visual arts as well as in music from Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon. A very fast read of a book that focuses a bit on Mike Kelley, but mostly with gender issues in the world of 'rock.' Also goes into the No Wave music/art movement of NYC in the 1980's. Surely a must for the Sonic Youth/Kim fan, but maybe for those people also a good map to a territory that they never visited before.

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

i have mixed feelings about this book. I did enjoy learning new things about Gordon's practice, and the interviews and diary sections were real highlights for me. Bot overall, it was a little underwhelming, maybe my expectations were too high.

[kate]

kim g can do no wrong

[Mills College Library]

700.9045 G6638 2014