American Slut
(2017-18, performance) At a table seating 24 people American Slut was a performance, a lecture, a tenure review presentation and an exorcism. Responding to problematic ethical stance of “American Sniper,” both the Chris Kyle autobiography and Clint Eastwood film, the piece tried to draw a line from Reagan’s response to the AIDS crisis to the Bush/Cheney war in Iraq. Along the way there was an art school tenure review, a Madonna song, and shout outs to Hannah Arrendt, Susan Lucci and David Wojnarowicz.
“You burn with hunger for food that does not exist.” David Foster Wallace
“The earth is pressed down by the weight of beasts.” Milton
“Any life can seem dramatic if you omit most of it.” Anne Beatty
Performed as part of the Rapid Pulse Festival, Chicago.
Writer and director: Michael Thomas. Performers: Alex Stein and Michael Thomas. Massive table and scenic elements: J.W. Smith
