Guðmundsdóttir Subversive Esotericism and Aesthetic Radicalism

The Myths and Rituals of Viennese Actionism
1. Auflage 2024
ISBN: 978-3-031-74017-6
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 315 Seiten, eBook

Reihe: Palgrave Studies in New Religions and Alternative Spiritualities

In this book, Sólveig Guðmundsdóttir uncovers the crucial role of esotericism in the art of the Vienna Actionists—a group of Austrian neo-avant-garde artists, infamous for their transgressive performance art. Addressing this frequently overlooked aspect of Actionism, Guðmundsdóttir traces, historicizes, and examines the esoteric discourses in selected works: the collective manifesto  (1962), Rudolf Schwarzkogler’s text  (1967/68) and the performances (1970) by Hermann Nitsch, and (1970) by Günter Brus. Mapping out the various discursive entanglements as they appear in the works, i.e. between esotericism and psychoanalysis, fascism, gender, sexuality, aesthetics, science, orientalism and religious discourses, the author illustrates and establishes the importance of esoteric traditions for the Actionists’ art and subversive practices. The historical analysis of the artworks reflects on the cultural nexus of post-war Austria, as well as the relations between radical politics, countercultures and esotericism, and how they appear in Actionism. Guðmundsdóttir argues that to survey the historical placement of esotericism is vital for understanding not only the context of their works, but also the contradictory image of the Actionists as both anti-authoritarian and reactionary artists.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Guðmundsdóttir, Sólveig

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Introduction.- 2. The Myth of the Blood Organ.- 3. The Nature of the Aesthetic Panorama.- 4. Performative Satanism and Pornographic Gestures.- 5. Radical Androgyny and Shamanic Rites.- 6. Conclusion.

Über Autor(innen)

Sólveig Guðmundsdóttiris a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Iceland.