born: 1936, Ventor, New Jersey
died: 1988, San Francisco
best known as:
the woman who shot Andy Warhol
author of SCUM Manifesto (1967) and Up your Ass
I Shot Andy Warhol
(1996)
with Lili Taylor
[SCUM objectives]
overthrow the government, eliminate the money system, institute complete automation and destroy the male sex.
[on biology and cloning- this was written in 1967!]
It is now technically feasible to reproduce without the aid of males (or, for that matter, females) and to produce only females.
[on male traditional sexuality]
the male is [...] obsessed with screwing; he'll swim through a river of snot, wade nostril-deep through a mile of vomit, if he thinks there'll be a friendly pussy awaiting him. He'll screw a woman he despises, any snaggle-toothed hag, and furthermore, pay for the opportunity.
[on art and the canon]
We know that 'Great Art' is great because male authorities have told us so
[on art and urban landscape]
the male, besides inflicting on the world 'Great Art', has decorated his unlandscaped cities with ugly buildings (both inside and out), ugly decors, billboards, highways, cars, garbage trucks, and, most notably, his own putrid self.
[on computers and machines]
the institution of computers will be delayed interminably under the male control system, since the male has a horror of being replaced by machines.
[nichilism - against re-production]
Why produce even females? Why should there be future generations? What is their purpose?
[utopia and revolution]
SCUM will forcibly relieve bus drivers, cab drivers and subway token sellers of their jobs and run buses and cabs and dispense free tokens to the public.
SCUM will destroy all useless and harmful objects --
cars, store windows, 'Great Art', etc.
[against "nice" feminism]
SCUM will not picket, demonstrate, march or strike to attempt to achieve its ends. Such tactics are for nice, genteel ladies who scrupulously take only such action as is guaranteed to be ineffective.
[...] the nice, 'privileged, educated', middle-class ladies with a high regard for the touching faith in the essential goodness of Daddy and policemen.
[anarchy & radicalism]
If SCUM ever marches, it will be over the President's stupid,
sickening face; if SCUM ever strikes, it will be in the dark with a six-inch blade.
SCUM is against the entire system, the very idea of law and government.
SCUM is out to destroy the system, not attain certain rights within it.
