SCUM in Poland. On Lesbian Artistic Hit Squad in Polish Horror Story. (original) (raw)

This text addresses the American and Polish context of the reception of controversial SCUM Manifesto, written in 1967 by Valerie Solanas, a feminist lesbian writer, and activist, who became famous for shooting Andy Warhol, a celebrity pop artist and gay culture icon of America at the end of the 60s. and in the 70s. of the 20th century. The American context is covered by both seemingly democratizing art scene in the 60s. including gay artists, but demonstrably oppressive towards non-heteronormative women, and arising social/protest movements fighting for civil rights. The awareness of the Polish reception of SCUM is, in turn, addressed through rebellious art project Scum (2016) by Liliana Piskorska, artist and lesbian, who reclaimed its relevance in the context of the conservative, right-wing politics in Poland, and its implications for the situation of lesbians.