Théâtre/Public no. 231 – Internationale Situationniste: Theatre, Performance

Théâtre/Public no. 231. Internationale Situationniste: Theatre, Performance. Montreuil: Editions Theatrales, January 2019. 184 p.; 21 x 30 cm.; ill. cover.

Issue of the periodical Theatre/Public devoted to the Internationale Situationniste and its relationship with theater and performance.

Théâtre/Public is a quarterly periodical focused on theater, considered from an aesthetic, cultural and political angle. Its editorial committee incudes Jean-Louis Besson, Christian Biet, Claire Finburgh, Alain Girault, Jean Jourdheuil, Olivier Neveux, Michèle Raoul-Davis, and Bernard Sobel. Olivier Neuveux serves as editor-in-chief.

This issue includes the following articles:

• Clare Finburgh Delijani. Déborder le cadre. L’Internationale situationniste, le théâtre et la performance
• Cristina De Simone. Le dire de Debord. Esquisse d’une généalogie lettriste
• Clare Finburgh Delijani. « Élargir la part non médiocre de la vie ». La situation construite et le théâtre contemporain
• Gary Winters and Claire Hind. Les Masses noires. Subversion d’un concept du XVIIIe siècle ou La transformation de la Page noire de Laurence Sterne en fenêtre sur le paysage shandynien
• Dominic Paterson. Possessions. Scott Myles et l’invocation-évocation artistique de l’Internationale situationniste
• Entretien avec Graeme Miller, réalisé par Clare Finburgh Delijani. « Ces portes entrouvertes qui filtrent le monde »
• Karolina Svobodova. Le situationnisme en Belgique. Histoires, coïncidences, détournements
• Entretien avec Noël Godin, réalisé par Karolina Svobodova. Intervenir. Interrompre. Perturber
• Karolina Svobodova. Liège, le Cirque Divers, un espace, un temps
• Karel Vanhaesebrouck. Jan Bucquoy ou l’art du dérèglement
• Entretien avec Benjamin Verdonck et Emilio López-Menchero, réalisé par Karel Vanhaesebrouck. « Démanteler le spectacle en utilisant le spectacle »
• Marielle Pelissero. L’écho des situs à New York : un gouffre atlantique qui s’élargit ?
• Entretien avec Peter Eckersall, réalisé par Marielle Pelissero. « L’authenticité est expérimentée à travers le corps »
• Entretien avec Esther Neff, réalisé par Marielle Pelissero. « Les théories de l’I.S. sont incroyablement “européennes” »
• Entretien avec Tim Griffin, réalisé par Marielle Pelissero. « Derrière chaque projet, une économie entière structure l’expérience »
• Guy Spielmann. Du « situationnisme »au punk (1967-1977). La bande-son qu’il manquait à Mai 68
• François Coadou. Les situationnistes et l’exposition. Entre laboratoire et manifeste : à la recherche de nouvelles formes d’action
• Vanessa Theodoropoulou. Lutte et représentation. Modalités de l’action et performativité chez les situationnistes
• Patrick Marcolini. La fin de l’art et ses suites. Sur un paradoxe situationniste
• Marcello Tarì. « Une terrible beauté est née ». Sur la relation entre les situationnistes et le Mouvement de 77 en Italie

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Constant’s “Niewu Urbanisme” in Provo 9 [1966]

CONSTANT (Nieuwenhuis). Nieuw Urbanisme (in Provo 9). Provo: Amsterdam, 12 May 1966. 48 pp.; ill.; offset-printed, 29.7 x 10.5 cm. Ill. white wrappers with text in black and red.

Constant’s article is his intellectual contribution to the Provo movement.

“Nieuw Urbanisme” was first translated into English and published by The Friends of Malatesta, Buffalo NY, 1970. It is available at http://www.notbored.org/new-urbanism.html. The text in the original Dutch is available here: https://stichtingconstant.nl/system/files/pdf/1966%20Nieuw%20Urbanisme_0.pdf

 

Andre Frankin in Arguments (1960 and 1962)

About Andre Frankin. “André Frankin is not well-known and his impact on the lettrist and situationist movements are hard to measure” states scholar Jean-Marie Apostolides. André Frankin (also know “Robert Rivier” and “Léonard Rankine”) was born on 16 June 1925 in Liege, Belgium and died in the same city on 28 March 1990. Born into a middle class family, he suffered from neurological issues as a child that left him partially disabled – he walked and, at times, spoke with difficulty. Yet, he was viewed as intelligent and well-read. He first met Debord and the Internationale Lettriste through the Metagraphies exhibition in Paris in 1954. He then wrote several articles in Potlatch under the pseudonym “Leonard Rankine”, including “Perspectives of the Paris and London agreements” (Potlatch 15, December 1954). His contributions to the SI include: “Platform for a cultural Revolution” (Internationale Situationniste 3, December 1959), “Programmatic Outlines” (Internationale Situationniste 4, June 1960), and “Preface to the Scenic Unity” (Internationale Situationniste 5, December 1960).

FRANKIN, Andre. Wilhelm Reich et l’economie sexuelle (in Arguments 18, 1960). Paris: Editions de Minuit, 1960. 64p.; 14 x 22.5 cm.; cream wrappers with text in black and red.

Writte while he was a member of the Internationale Situationniste, Andre Frankin’s “W. Reich et l’economie sexuelle” was published in issue 18 of Arguments (pp. 29-35). In this substantial article, Frankin provides an introduction to controversial psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich, who had passed away 3 years before in New York. According to Frankin, “Wilhelm Reich attempted to combine Marxist dialectics and psychonalaysis, advocating for both sexual and social liberation. He was excluded from both the Communist Party…and the International Psychoanalytical Association (1930-1934). His analysis and strong criticism sought to remove all obstacles to full erotic satisfaction…” (pp.29). Post-situationist figure Jean-Pierre Voyer authored an important essay on Wilhelm Reich which was published by Champ Libre in 1971 and subsequently translated into Spanish, Italian, English, German and other languages.

 

FRANKIN, Andre. Le parti, le quotidien (in Arguments 25-26, 1962). Paris: Editions de Minuit, 1962. 96 p.; 14 x 22.5 cm.; cream wrappers with text in black and red.

Written a few months after his resignation from the Internationale Situationniste in March 1961, Andre Frankin’s “Le parti, le quotidien” was published in issue 25-26 of Arguments (pp. 46-48), The article opens with a quote from noted sociologist Henri Lefebvre, then goes on to argue that the failure of Europen’s political parties can be explained by their inability to access workers’ everyday live. “The party, everyday life: there is no possible balance between the two, there is only a dialectical relationship” argues Frankin (pp. 46). Though Frankin is no longer an official member of the SI, the Situationist overtones are clear here. Debord and Lefebvre had met in 1960 and, despite a relatively quick falling out, the sociologist and his ideas had a major impact on the SI.

 

Patrick Straram – Tea for One (in Ecrits du Canada Francais VI) [1960]

STRARAM, Patrick. Tea for one (in Ecrits du Canada Francais VI). Montreal, 23 Feb. 1960. 347 p.; 14 x 20 cm.; white cover with text in black.

This often-neglected Straram text is a critical milestone in the young man’s personal and intellectual journey.

From a bio-bibliographical standpoint, “tea for one” is important because it is Straram’s first text published in North America. The Frenchman had left Paris in April 1954 – both to flee conscription and settle with his young wife, Lucille – and settled in Vancouver, Canada. After 4 years in British Columbia, where he mostly worked as a woodcutter, Straram relocated to Montreal in June 1958 and resumed the literary life he had put on hold for half a decade. “Tea for one”, which was written in June 1959 and published in February 1960, was praised by literary critics (e.g., Gilles Marcotte in Le Devoir, «Vie des lettres, Tea for one de Patrick Straram», 19 March 1960) and allowed Straram to start building a reputation in Montreal’s literary circles.

“Tea for one” is also important intellectually because it precedes (if only by a few months) the Cahier pour un Paysage a Inventer (see more here: https://situationnisteblog.wordpress.com/2014/02/13/cahier-pour-un-paysage-a-inventer/) This is around the time that Straram had resumed his correspondence with Guy Debord — Debord’s letters to Straram have been translated by Not Bored! and are available here: http://www.notbored.org/debord.html.

The text itself is the account of a type of “urban derive” through Montreal — the Situationist overtones are very clear in it.

“Tea for one” was reprinted in Blues Clair (Montreal: Herbes Rouge, pp.7-42) in 1983

 

Die Welt als Labyrinth [2018]

Die Welt als Labyrinth. n.p. [Geneva]: n.p. [MAMCO], n.d. [2018]. 1 p.; ill.; 89,5 x 128 cm; white and red ink on black stock. One of 50 printed.

Poster of the exhibition “Die Welt als Labyrinth” held at the Musee d’Art Moderne et Contemporain (MAMCO) in Geneva from 28 February to 6 May 2018. The illustration is an untitled darboard collage from the Situationist exhibition Destruktion af RSG-6 at the gallery Exi, Odense, Denmark in 1963.

The title of the exhibition “refers to an unfulfilled project for a Situationist exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam in 1960, and shows up one of the questions that are raised by any presentation of these avant-garde movements: how to exhibit in a museum people who were systematically opposed to cultural institutions? Going further than a sabotaging of art through an unconventional register of forms and techniques, it was art as distinct social territory, governed by institutions, and determined by the market economy, that was in these movements’ crosshairs.” (MAMCO)

For more information and pictures of the exhibition, see https://www.galleriesnow.net/shows/die-welt-als-labyrinth/. For a video, see https://vimeo.com/288680033

 

Billboard Liberation Front [1997]

BILLBOARD LIBERATION FRONT. Twenty Years of Billboard Alterations and Liberations. San Francisco: Masters of Pretzels, n.d. [ca. 1999]. 1 p.; 82 x 53.5; ill. Multiple inks on thick white stock. Numbered and signed by the artist (23/50)

This poster commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Billboard Liberation Front, which coincides with retrospectives held in San Francisco (The Lab, 12 March to 1 April 1999) and New York (CBGB, 28 April to 21 May 1999) .

The Billboard Liberation Front (BLF) was a Situationist-influenced group formed in December 1977 by Jack Napier (John Law) and Irving Glikk. The two men practiced cultural jamming by altering billboards around San Francisco and other major U.S. cities, changing key words to radically alter the message and make it anti-corporate. This detournement-like practice continued for the next several decades. In 2013, Complex Magazine named the BLF #27 of The 50 Most Influential Street Artists of All Time. The BLF maintains an active website documenting its history and current practices at http://www.billboardliberation.com/

Founder John Law will be the subject of a major retrospective at the ProArts Gallery and Commons in Oakland, CA this summer. See https://proartsgallery.org/event/signman-john-law/

 

 

The Most Dangerous Game: Der Weg der Situationistischen Internationale in den Mai 68 [2018]

The Most Dangerous Game: Der Weg der Situationistischen Internationale in den Mai 68. n.p. [Berlin]: n.p. [HKW], n.d. [2018]. 1 p.; 33 x 59.5 cm.; red ink on white stock

The Most Dangerous Game: Der Weg der Situationistischen Internationale in den Mai 68. n.p. [Berlin]: n.p. [HKW], n.d. [2018]. 1 p.; 33 x 59.5 cm.; B&W photograph on white stock

Set of two posters released for the exhibition The Most Dangerous Game: Der Weg der Situationistischen Internationale in den Mai 68 held at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin between 27 September and 10 December 2018.

Guy Debord – Un art de la guerre [2013]

[DEBORD, GUY]. Guy Debord – Un art de la guerre. n.p. [Paris]: n.p. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France], n.d. [2013].  1 p.; ill.; 120 x 160 cm.; colored poster.

Poster of the exhibition “Guy Debord – Un Art de la Guerre” held at the Bibliotheque Nationale de France between 27 March and 13 July, 2013. The photograph, which shows key members of the Situationist International, was taken at the London conference sometime between 24 and 28 September 1960. From left to right: Attila Kotanyi, Hans-Peter Zimmer, Heimrad Prem, Jorgen Nash, Maurice Wyckaert, Asger Jorn, Guy Debord, Helmut Strum, and Jacqueline de Jong.

This poster was never made available for sale, and is thus scarce.

Patrick Cheval – Curriculum Vitae [2000s]

CHEVAL, Patrick. Curriculum Vitae. n.p. [Bruxelles, Belgium]: n.p. [Yves le Manach], n.d. [2000s?]. n.p. [5 p.]; 15 x 10 cm.; plain white wrappers with text in black.

One of the lesser known members of the Internationale Situationniste, Patrick Cheval was born February 9, 1947. He was invited to officially join the movement in the summer of 1968. Cheval had distinguished himself as a key member of the “Enrages” (which resulted in his getting expelled from University of Nanterre’s housing in January 1968) and “Conseil pour les Maintien des Occupations (CMDO)” during the May 1968 riots. During his time in the S..I, he didn’t write much but he did beat up a few people when Debord asked him to (see, for instance, Corr Vol IV, p.28), faked a mental illness to avoid conscription (Corr. Vol IV, p. 91), and got jailed in a Moroccan prison. He resigned from the SI on 22 January 1970, but remained on good terms with the remaining situationists. In la Veritable Scission, Debord writes that Cheval is an “esteemed comrade” (1972), though he laments 3 years later that he’s not been up to much (“il ne fait rien”). In a letter to Jean-Francois Martos dated 16 May 1982, Debord asks Martos to send Cheval his wishes (“Transmet a Patrick notre affectueux souvenir. Il faut qu’il vive et qu’il boive” – Corr. Vol VI, p.213). As he explains with humor in this “Curriculum Vitae”, Cheval spent his adult life jumping from one menial job to another. He passed away on February 5, 1991, at the age of 44.

If you additional insights on the life, deeds, and writings of Patrick Cheval, please comment below or reach out directly.

A los Libertarios [1980]

[DEBORD, Guy]. A los Libertarios. n.p. [Paris]: Los Amigos Internacionales [i.e., Guy Debord], September 1980. Two-sided broadside; 46 x 31.5 cm.; black ink on white stock.

This is the hitherto unknown first edition of A Los Liberatios, which was also published as part of Appels de la Prison de Segovie (Paris: Champ Libre) in November 1980. Signed “Los Amigos Internacionales”, the short text was authored by Guy Debord. He calls out the fact that “more than fifty libertarians are being held in the prisons of Spain, and many among them have been held many years without being tried” and asks that Spanish comrades take action. The broadside is thought to have been distributed in Spain, though it is unclear whether or to which extent his occurred

Full text available at https://sindominio.net/ash/libertarios.html (Spanish), with French (http://kropot.free.fr/Debord-libertaires.htm) and English (http://www.notbored.org/aux-libertaires.html) translations also available.

This broadside is uncommon. We do not locate any copy in OCLC or in the trade.