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Angry Women
Sixteen performance artists discuss human sexuality, racism, sexism, and the ways in which art can be used to break down taboos and dogma.
239 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
12 people are currently reading
1402 people want to read
About the author
V. Vale
47 books112 followersJapanese-American writer and publisher. He also played keyboards for the later famous power trio Blue Cheer.
In 1977 he started to publish the punk fanzine "Search and destroy" In 1980, he began publication of RE/Search, a tabloid format zine focusing on various counterculture and underground topics.
RE/Search later became always a format for books, of which Vale is a regular contributor.
In 1977 he started to publish the punk fanzine "Search and destroy" In 1980, he began publication of RE/Search, a tabloid format zine focusing on various counterculture and underground topics.
RE/Search later became always a format for books, of which Vale is a regular contributor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
April 22, 2015
Rage meets Wisdom meets Feminism meets FTW moments meets WTF moments. A therapeutic reading experience involving mild electric shocks.
October 22, 2007
DIAMANDA GALAS: The original nature of woman's voice has always been tied to witches and the shamanistic experience--the witch as transvestite/transsexual having the power of both male and female.
LYDIA LUNCH: They're killing too much of the earth and not enough of the people! Another reversal of intelligence.
bell hooks: In Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, there's a moment when the little girl, a victim of rape/incest, says to another little girl whom she wants to be angry, "Anger is better -- there is a presence in anger." I was always moved by that contrasting of victimization vs. being victimized; it's important to maintain the kind of rage that allows you to resist.
KATHY ACKER: In early books, the characters changed gender a lot: I never got 'his' and 'her' right! And the dumb reason was: I just didn't remember, I didn't care. ... I think the reason was probably my hatred of gender.
LYDIA LUNCH: They're killing too much of the earth and not enough of the people! Another reversal of intelligence.
bell hooks: In Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, there's a moment when the little girl, a victim of rape/incest, says to another little girl whom she wants to be angry, "Anger is better -- there is a presence in anger." I was always moved by that contrasting of victimization vs. being victimized; it's important to maintain the kind of rage that allows you to resist.
KATHY ACKER: In early books, the characters changed gender a lot: I never got 'his' and 'her' right! And the dumb reason was: I just didn't remember, I didn't care. ... I think the reason was probably my hatred of gender.
March 8, 2008
This was a suprisingly incredible read. It is 1991 interviews with feminists from many different walks of life. They didn't shy away from showing completely opposite views in the same group. These are real women, so of course everyone is different. This really made me think about my views on pornography, prostitution, and abortion. It is healthy to think, so the book gets an A++. My favorites were bell hooks and Susie Bright. bell has a very wonderful perspective on class and women. Susie has the funniest stories of vibrators and sexual freedom. The fact that this was 15 years ago made the predictions for the future really fascinating. I love love love this book. I thought I was on the fringe, this showed me I have far to go to get there.
May 3, 2010
this book is such a trip. i really like it. it's all crazy oldschool poisonous flowers along the margins, goddess energy, fake-bloody-knife holding picture-taking, labrys-wielding, medusa-snake cover, let-me-show-you-my-cervix article-writing insanity. i love it.
July 28, 2009
Despite being the only book ever to rival this one in heinousness of cover art---
--I think Angry Women is one of the most important books of the Nineties if not the late 20th century--both as historical text and timeless shriek. It was an incredible education to read this, a lost trove, an oral history of late feminism through the lens of the most uncompromising, visceral, lacerating intelligences then performing art. It has it's flaws. They make better history. Everyone should read this.
--I think Angry Women is one of the most important books of the Nineties if not the late 20th century--both as historical text and timeless shriek. It was an incredible education to read this, a lost trove, an oral history of late feminism through the lens of the most uncompromising, visceral, lacerating intelligences then performing art. It has it's flaws. They make better history. Everyone should read this.
January 1, 2023
After reading the new Kathy Acker biography, I was inspired to revisit this classic (that I first read in 1995, when I received it as a gift). For a more-than-thirty-year-old feminist text, this book holds up remarkably well. I appreciate that there's not an attempt to find consensus--just after bell hooks talks about the importance of including men in feminism, Lydia Lunch says we need full-out war between men and women.
It's startling to read so much valorization of violence, and remember the romanticization of violence in so many progressive pockets then. Diamanda Galas and Andrea Juno talk about how feminism should become pro-gun and talk about the guns they keep on them. Indeed, at the time I shared their fascination with movies like Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, and I had a t-shirt with Burroughs holding a gun on it.
I really enjoying revisiting so many interviews that are so smart and introduced me to so much. bell hooks's interview is particularly smart, and it brough back such memories of how much of an impact it had on me. I went and bought books by both her and Thich Nhat Hanh after reading her interview. Susie Bright's discussion of her background of activism was fascinating to re-read now (and was so inspiring then).
My husband suggested I write an article about re-reading this--and I very well may.
It's startling to read so much valorization of violence, and remember the romanticization of violence in so many progressive pockets then. Diamanda Galas and Andrea Juno talk about how feminism should become pro-gun and talk about the guns they keep on them. Indeed, at the time I shared their fascination with movies like Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, and I had a t-shirt with Burroughs holding a gun on it.
I really enjoying revisiting so many interviews that are so smart and introduced me to so much. bell hooks's interview is particularly smart, and it brough back such memories of how much of an impact it had on me. I went and bought books by both her and Thich Nhat Hanh after reading her interview. Susie Bright's discussion of her background of activism was fascinating to re-read now (and was so inspiring then).
My husband suggested I write an article about re-reading this--and I very well may.
February 22, 2012
A very dated but very interesting look at counter-culture and fringe women artists, performers and writers. Definitely worth a read.
April 8, 2015
Can't review this book because the bell hooks (and Lydia Lunch, less so) interview motivated me in the same way as all the David Foster Wallace I've read did, not to be ironic, flippant, not to operate on default mechanisms of distrust, fear, and meanness, not to be afraid of loneliness, not to perpetuate hurt, and then talking about it I get very serious and humorless, and I can't be any of those things on the internet without also being self-editing. The internet is the exact place to be ironic and flippant and being otherwise feels downright unnatural. So allow me to sum up: good book! Well curated and edited. As a nascent feminist, still overcautious about most things, some of these women scare the living shit out of me but like I said, some of these interviews really cut to the quick, not just about sexism, but about failures in human relationships in general. I didn't like this at first because it lacked a sense of humor but it is okay to assert, without a wink to the audience, that some things deserve to be taken seriously.
Want to read
July 5, 2012KATHY ACKER: In early books, the characters changed gender a lot: I never got 'his' and 'her' right! And the dumb reason was: I just didn't remember, I didn't care. ... I think the reason was probably my hatred of gender
September 10, 2009
LOVED this book! Find out what makes performance artists such as Diamanda Galas, Annie Sprinkle and Karen Finley tick and ticked off.
June 21, 2012
Great snap shot of some great late 80s early 90s feminists, performance artists and heros! My copy is old, worn, well loved and often read.
June 23, 2018
Uma coletânea de mulheres dos anos 90 que estão iradas basicamente com os mesmos assuntos que nos enfurecem hoje: machismo, racismo, luta de classes, cânone, cultura & contracultura.
Dá ainda mais raiva saber que pouco mudou nessas décadas? Dá. Mas aproveitando o gancho da bell hooks citando, na entrevista dela, a Toni Morrison (que combo de mulheres!) " Anger is better - there is a presence in anger".
Que possamos aprender a continuar a luta das gerações que nos antecederam.
Dá ainda mais raiva saber que pouco mudou nessas décadas? Dá. Mas aproveitando o gancho da bell hooks citando, na entrevista dela, a Toni Morrison (que combo de mulheres!) " Anger is better - there is a presence in anger".
Que possamos aprender a continuar a luta das gerações que nos antecederam.
October 6, 2009
Bleh. If you want any more reasons to be annoyed by no-wave lady Lydia Lunch, read on. I've enjoyed the other RE/Search books so far, although the interviewer tends to take on a very fanboy/girl tone.
I love feminist performance art, particularly from the 70s and 80s, and they profile women I respect-Maria Abramovic, Carolee Schneeman, etc, but this publication tends to make every performer read like the typical perception of feminist performance artists -think of a team of more violent, man-hating Judy Funnys from the cartoon "Doug."
I will say that, not being a fan of Diamanda Galas anyway, I was pretty entertained by her violent urgings towards women to carry a gun or otherwise get raped.
Read Angry Women anyway, but read it knowing that there are far better interviews and profiles of female performers and then skip over to the Re/Search Industrial Culture handbook. It's much more entertaining and violently masculine.
I love feminist performance art, particularly from the 70s and 80s, and they profile women I respect-Maria Abramovic, Carolee Schneeman, etc, but this publication tends to make every performer read like the typical perception of feminist performance artists -think of a team of more violent, man-hating Judy Funnys from the cartoon "Doug."
I will say that, not being a fan of Diamanda Galas anyway, I was pretty entertained by her violent urgings towards women to carry a gun or otherwise get raped.
Read Angry Women anyway, but read it knowing that there are far better interviews and profiles of female performers and then skip over to the Re/Search Industrial Culture handbook. It's much more entertaining and violently masculine.
June 20, 2007
At some point in the early 90s, I realized that evey cool, strong woman I knew had a copy of this book on her bookshelf, and I decided that I needed to have one of my own. I went out and got myself one, although I can't remember where.
This is the book where I first heard of so many amazing female artists and writers and thinkers: Susie Bright, bell hooks, Karen Finley, Sapphire. Annie Sprinkle is in this book too, and I will never forget her claiming to have saved a man's life by giving him a blowjob. Sexual healing indeed.
This is the book where I first heard of so many amazing female artists and writers and thinkers: Susie Bright, bell hooks, Karen Finley, Sapphire. Annie Sprinkle is in this book too, and I will never forget her claiming to have saved a man's life by giving him a blowjob. Sexual healing indeed.
January 12, 2008
I first read parts of this book as an undergrad during the peak of political correctness in the 90's and when I first realized what feminism meant. It was loaded and biting. I remember wondering about how dated it would be and so decided not to buy it. Chris saw it at a bookstore in 2006 and decided to pick it up for me. I've been re-reading some of it since then and realize how significant this publications is in the history of feminism and performance. Thanks Chris for picking it up--I love it when you TRY to be a feminist!
January 11, 2008
Reading this book and its companion, Angry Women in Rock, gave me some my first experiences with queer culture and feminism in general. It was also the most radical thing I had ever encountered, as a 16 or 17 year old baby dyke just realizing how many different types of women in the world there were. I remember reading this and feeling positively subversive. Reading about these women made me feel less alone in my small midwestern town. It also make me feel totally inspired to do something great, and for the first time like that might actually be possible.
February 21, 2008
As pulpy as this book appears to be, it's pretty sociologically important, just as a historical artifact, and was certainly a sign of things to come (it was published in 1992). What lies within is 90's feminism in all its glory, or vainglory, its reasoned insights and wretched excesses (e.g. some of the absurdities perpetrated in the name of performance art), its embarrassing errors of thought, and yes, its anger, which is either appropriate or insane (case sensitive).
April 2, 2008
this was the first place that i heard of bell hooks, sapphire, kathy acker, diamanda galas, karen finley, annie sprinkle, lydia lunch, susie bright, and a handful of other totally groundbreaking you-need-to-know-about-them women. i was still in high school i think. later on many of these women came to my attention in different ways and i felt grateful for having a reference point, having read their words in this collection.
December 28, 2008
A large interview book covering everyone from performance artists to sexual performance artists....okay, not exactly fair, because there are talks with bell hooks, Diamandi Galas, Lydia Lunch, and others. Karen Finley is the only performance type artist in the book that I have seen, although I don't think I want to see any of the others--especially the sex orgy with chicken parts all over stage.
Hey, avant garde.
Hey, avant garde.
January 4, 2016
This is a very important book. I wish it had included more voices of artists of color, but I can't say it has disappointed in any other way. The interviews are in depth and telling and vivifying and help so much to contextualize the art practices of these trailblazers who kicked the door open for future generations. Thank you to bell & Lydia & Susan & Diamanda & & & et al!! Thank you thank you!!! For being the raddest of the rad.
August 7, 2007
Re/Search books are f@&king fantastic. And this one introduced me to the ladies who pushed it harder than anyone and currently still expand the poles. If you ever find this one, freaking pay what they ask for it.
December 6, 2013
A rare insight into the thoughts of feminists and artists, (and feminist artists). There are few books covering the lives and opinions of women in performance art (and other art) so this was a welcome book back when I read it about 20 years ago.
Every woman interviewed was a gem.
Every woman interviewed was a gem.
June 23, 2007
so amazing!
August 18, 2007
This has everyone from bell hooks to Diamanda Galas - an AMAZING reader on women artists
August 28, 2007
Lydia Lunch and Diamanda Galas in the same book? And then there was Annie Sprinkle, Kathy Acker and Avital Ronell, too. Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!
December 5, 2007
i read this in highschool and really liked it. it was how i first learned about annie sprinkle and other she-roes in my life. i remember wanting to be IN this book. i still do...
January 8, 2008
This is one of my all time favorite books because of the amazing people interviewed in it: huge range of life experiences & perspectives.
January 16, 2008
Amazing resource. bell hooks, Susie Bright, Diamanda Galas, et al in one volume. Insight abounds.
April 1, 2008
I loved this book, It's collection of various interviews. I don't know if this publishing company is still around. They had a line of great books that they published.
April 4, 2008
I remember this book feeling really relevant to my life and times when i first picked it up. It was validating and insightful of my own experiences.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews