16. SCUM Manifesto: The Perfect Gay Storm

We’re talking about our favorite anti-male pump up jam, SCUM Manifesto. This controversial and iconic essay was written by Valerie Solanas, founder and singular member of SCUM (the Society for Cutting Up Men) and failed assassin of pop art darling Andy Warhol. Werk!

We dig into this manifesto, break down the perfect gay storm that lead to Andy Warhol’s shooting, and celebrate the performance art of Solanas & Warhol’s relationship. Could this text be contemporary if we replaced the word “men” with “patriarchy?” How much should we consider the artist’s intention when reading a work? What would Valerie Solanas’ twitter look like?

Additional Reading:

• On Liking Women by Andrea Long Chu
• For Her by Fiona Apple
• The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (From A to B and Back Again) by Andy Warhol

Extra Credit:

• Follow us at @wedidthereading 📚🌈
• Read more of Clementine’s words at @clementinevonradics
• See more of Pia’s drawings at @pia_marchetti
• Thanks to Mirin Doja for creating our theme song