Consumption Junction: The Cute Art Hoe Edition
I give ONE reading and go to ONE performance and suddenly I'm an expert on art
I’m a working writer now?
Dear friends,
September is the only month where, with the exception of a work trip1, I’m stuck at home. Strangely, I’m fine with this. Half this year, I haven’t been home and my status as Dog Father is suffering because of it. Now that my spouse is traveling for work too, I can re-claim my status as the favorite dog parent. While he’s off serving his tech overlords, I can work on writing with my two nuggets by my side.
Speaking of writing: I buried the lede on my last missive—I’ve been cranking out some pieces, and before I get to the rest of this post, I’d love to share those with you!
Matador Network finally published my commissioned piece. Thanks to my editor Suzie for the quick turnaround and suggestions. Baby’s first paid piece of writing that didn’t involve slush pile! I’m learning a lot about what this industry entails through experience, and I now understand why my family was at a loss for how to guide me through it. Oh well, I’m a writer now, I guess? (Impending essay on this coming eventually.)
Because I’m cranking out pages in the upcoming weeks, there’s no missive and instead, your fave series and mine: CAPITALIST CRUSHES/CONSUMPTION JUNCTION! There are some whimsical fun features in this list, which revolve around a r t and help me question my place with it.
What I’ve Been Playing
What a beautiful surrealist game—TO A T—from the makers of KATAMARI DAMACY, tells a story of a T-shaped teenager navigating their life along with their trusty dog and loved ones. No spoilers, but all I’ll say as a disabled person is that it’s a beautiful allegory for disability and our experiences. I can’t speak to others, but I found it a bizarre, funny and heartwarming game that follows a linear timeline. Play it with your children—it’s a cozy one! (I play this on Steam Deck, but it’s available on other platforms) The camera can’t be controlled, which makes navigating a bit wonky at times, but it’s a sweet game with low stakes and a high philosophical, ethical and moral narrative. Took me about ~6-7 hours to finish the main storyline, and I didn’t even do a completionist run, which will take me a little longer. It’s very sweet, silly and worth the playtime.
You should watch this—
Generous friend, mentor and prolific writer, Chloé Cooper Jones, invited me to her first stab at dramaturgy in her spouse (Matty Davis) and son’s (Wolfgang Cooper Grosshardt) performance The Essence & The Choice at PAGEANT. Not that they need my recognition or praise, but bravo! My experience with contemporary performance (art) is limited to Marina Abramovic and, if we can count them—musicals—so this was out of my wheelhouse. What struck me most is the way Davis' work stretches the body to its limitations. While this is the only performance of his I’ve seen live, I’m familiar enough with his body of work to know that his art allows us into his process.
Unlike ballerinas or Broadway dancers, who are trained to never let anyone see sweat (even in hula, dancers are taught to plaster on a smile even if the apocalypse is going on around them) Davis’ effort shows in every chaotic grapevine racing towards his stepson. The most physically exerting feat of display involves Davis suspended mid-air as his chalky palms grip a metal bar as Cooper Grosshardt meanders the space below. When Cooper Grosshardt’s head ventures too close to Davis’ feet, Davis contorts himself to accommodate his son.
True to performance art, there is room for play. A free version of this performance will be staged in Chicago on September 20th for Chicago Exhibition Weekend. My advice if you’re around? Go check it out. Sign up to play with the referee. Wear your best running shoes. Prepare to sprint.
And if you do want to play—my best advice? Wear a lot of padded clothing.
As I later commented to one of Davis’ victims: “Are you okay? Matty goes…hard.” If you go, you’ll see what I mean.
What I’m Reading
LOVE IN A F*CKED-UP WORLD by Dean Spade: I saw this on my ex-partner’s book stack while re-blocking them on socials (oops. I’m toxic, sue me) and immediately screamed because historically, they have been (my ex, not Spade) a performative academic type yearning to be amongst the people without doing the work on themselves. Now, that’s my baggage—but when I saw Spade’s book on their nightstand above a ‘BEES’ book that I gifted them during our relationship, I could feel my burning rage growing in my chest.
So what did I do?
I bought the damn book, and started reading it.
The book finds its primary audience in white leftist/progressive activists who find the cis-heteronormative romantic paradigm2 stifling. This is their introduction to de-centering romantic and sexual relationships, and what it means to queer and fuck kinship in a meaningful, anti-colonial manner. When I finish the book, I’ll write a detailed review and response, but these are my initial thoughts and feelings. So far, I like it but I won’t lie to you, I’m glad Spade wrote this to be academic yet accessible, and it’s chock full of informational tidbits mapped along the author’s experiences along with cited research. The biggest issue I have is that the author is white, and I want to see more BIPOC voices writing about how their ancestors practiced kinship and restorative justice in relationships.
What are you consuming rn?
What are you reading and consuming? I’d love to know. Share your suggestions with me while I draft up a storm (seriously, I’m dying help.)
Thank you for reading!
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Not a vacation. I was under the assumption it would be one until I checked the itinerary. I have no breaks until evening. (And even then, they insist on taking us to one of the many bars for a nightcap.)
I hate this word. I see it everywhere. Everyone’s using it. It’s the new buzz word in research and relationship jargon.