Cynthia Carr 
On Edge 
Performance at the End of the Twentieth Century

<P>Through her engaged and articulate essays in the Village Voice, C. Carr has emerged as the cultural historian of the New York underground and the foremost critic of performance art. On Edge brings together her writings to offer a detailed and insightful history of this vibrant brand of theatre from the late 70s to today. It represents both Carr’s analysis as a critic and her testament as a witness to performances which, by their very nature, can never be repeated.</P><P>Carr has organized this collection both chronologically and thematically, ranging from the emphasis on bodily manipulation/endurance in the 70s to the underground club scene in New York to an insider’s analysis of the Tompkins Square Riot as a manifestation of the cultural and social conflicts that underlie much of performance art. She examines the transgressive and taboo-shattering work of Ethyl Eichelberger, Karen Finley, and Holly Hughes; documents specific performances by Annie Sprinkle and Lydia Lunch; and maps the development of such artists as Robbie Mc Cauley, Blue Man Group, and John Jesurun. She also describes the ‘cross-over’ phenomenon of the mid-80s and considers the far-right backlash against this mainstreaming as cultural reactionaries sought to curb the influence of these new artists.</P><P>CONTRIBUTORS: Linda Montano, Chris Burden, G.G Allin, Jean Baudrillard, Patty Hearts, Dan Quayle, Anne Magnouson, John Jesurun, John Kelly, Shu Lea Changvv, Diamanda Galas, Salley May, Rafael Mantanez Ortiz, Sherman Fleming, Kristine Stiles, Laurie Carlos, Jessica Hafedorn, Robbie Mc Cormick, Karen Finley, Poopo Shiraishi, Donna Henes, Holey Hughe, Ela Troyano, Michael Smith, Harry Koipper, John Sex, Nina Jagen, Ethyl Eichelberge, Marina Abramovic, Ulay.</P>

Table of Content

<P>Acknowledgments<BR>Introduction: Leaving Terra Firma<BR>Foreword to the Revised Edition<BR>Roped: A Saga of Art in Everyday Life: Linda Montano, Tehching Hsieh<BR>Before and After Science: Stelarc<BR>This is Only a Test: Chris Burden<BR>A Great Wall: Marina Abramovic, Ulay<BR>The Hot Bottom: Art and Artifice in the East Village<BR>Country Clubbing 8BC’s Pig Phest<BR>To Thine Own Self Be True: Ethyl Eichelberger<BR>Sex Gods, Ekstatic Women: John Sex, Nina Hagen, Dancenoise<BR>The Revolution That Won’t Be Televised: Michael Smith, Karen Finley, Harry Kipper, et al.<BR>R.I.P. 8BC The end of the never-ending talent show<BR>Art Crimes Cinema of Transgression, Outlaw Parties, et al.<BR>Loisada Talking Pictures: Ela Troyano<BR>The Queer Frontier: Holly Hughes, Carmelita Tropicana<BR>Disenchanted Evening: Donna Henes<BR>Big Bang Theory: Poppo Shiraishi<BR>Bad Company at the Love Club: Karen Finley, Carlo Mc Cormick<BR>Help Thou Mine Unbelief The Church of the Little Green Man<BR>Nightclubbing The Tompkins Square Riot<BR>The Triumph of Neoism The Millionth Apartment Festival<BR>Don’t Make Me Over: Slaves of New York, Darius James<BR>Just Revolting: Missing Foundation<BR>Unspeakable Practices, Unnatural Acts: The Taboo Art of Karen Finley<BR>The Lady Is a Dick: The Dyke Noir Theater of Holly Hughes<BR>Body Beautiful: Frank Moore<BR>Lydia Lunch Faces the Void<BR>Learning to Love the Monster: Jon Moritsugu, Johanna Went<BR>The Kipper Kids in Middle Age<BR>Life is a Killer: Joe Coleman<BR>Is That You? Fiona Templeton<BR>Deconstructing: Dixie Laurie Carlos, Jessica Hagedorn, Robbie Mc Cauley<BR>A Crash of Symbols: Sherman Fleming, Kristine Stiles<BR>Two Birds with One Stone: Dancenoise<BR>A Public Cervix Announcement: Annie Sprinkle, the Smut Fest<BR>Revisions of Excess: The V-Girls, Blue Man Group<BR>An Artist Retreats from Rage: Rafael Montañez Ortiz<BR>Beauties and Beasts: Salley May, Ms. Make-Believe, David Lynch<BR>Radical Shriek: Diamanda Galas<BR>Simulacra Stops Here: The Border Arts Workshop/Taller de Arte Fronterizo<BR>Redicovering America: Guillermo Gómez-Peña<BR>Talk Show: Robbie Mc Cauley, Jeannie Hutchins<BR>A Cinema Against the Vérités: Shu Lea Cheang<BR>Am I a Camera? John Jesurun<BR>Am I Living in a Box? Ann Magnuson<BR>The Vanguard Moves to Melrose Place: Mel Chin and the GALA Committee<BR>The Heart of the Web: Nina Sobell, Emily Hartzell<BR>Call Her Ishmael: Laurie Anderson &#8226;An NEA Timeline (Just the Lowlights)<BR>Portrait of an Artist in the Age of aids: David Wojnarowicz<BR>The Sexual Politics of Censorship: Targeted Artists and the Wrathful Dads<BR> With Mapplethorpe in Cincinnati: ‘The Perfect Moment’ on Trial<BR>The Adventures of Andre Serrano: in Pursuit of the White Supremacists<BR>Gross Indecency: The NEA Four Decision<BR>The Bohemian Diaspora<BR>In the Discomfort Zone: William Pope.L<BR>Dancing in the Streets: Yoshiko Chuma<BR>The Pain Artist: Bob Flanagan<BR>The World According to Jack Smith<BR>Men? Oh, Pause: Peggy Shaw<BR>The Statue of Libertines: Annie Sprinkle<BR>Washed in the Blood: Ron Athey<BR>Stripped Down: Zhang Huan<BR>The Rumble in dumbo: David Leslie<BR>Silence = Life: John Kelly<BR>The End of the Edge: An Epilogue<BR>Index</P>

About the author

<P>C. CARR is a staff writer for The Village Voice. She also writes about performance art and culture for Art Forum, LA Weekly, Interview, and Mirabella.</P>