Chris Kraus, author of the biography of Kathy Acker, discusses Kathy's life, debunking myths of the art scene, and writing from altered states with Juliet Jacques. They explore the limits of accurate biographies and changes in writing and attitudes towards privacy and appropriation.
Kathy Acker's writing style aimed to transport readers into altered states and challenge conventional narratives through direct and intimate connections.
Chris Kraus's biography of Kathy Acker provides a revisionist history, uncovering the snobbery and commercialization prevalent in 1970s-80s New York City's artistic circles.
The author's personal journey and growth as a writer allowed for a more nuanced exploration of Kathy Acker's life and work, overcoming initial over-identification and biases.
Deep dives
The Influence of Kathy Acker's Writing Style
Kathy Acker's writing style involved creating a direct and intimate connection with her readers through her use of present tense and emotional transparency, often avoiding analytical explanations. Her work aimed to transport readers into altered states and bring them along on her journey. While her experimental techniques and openness received both praise and criticism, they highlighted the limitations of traditional literary norms and challenged conventional narratives.
Unpacking Myths of 1970s-80s New York
In her biography of Kathy Acker, the author aims to demystify the exaggerated and glamorous depiction of 1970s-80s New York City. Rather than perpetuating the myth of a hip and inclusive underground scene, the biography explores the snobbery, exclusivity, and commercialization prevalent in the artistic circles of the time. It provides a revisionist history that uncovers the social, economic, and cultural context of the era, offering a more honest portrayal of the period's texture and highlights, challenging the perception of a romanticized avant-garde movement.
The Intricacies of Writing Style and Over-Identification
The author initially found it challenging to write about Kathy Acker due to over-identification, which hindered the ability to have an objective perspective. However, through time and personal experiences as a writer, the author was able to develop a distinct position and engagement with Acker's work. This allowed for a more balanced and nuanced exploration of Acker's life and writings, ultimately creating a biography that delves into Acker's uniqueness while avoiding personal biases.
The Complexity of Biography and the Limits of Knowing
Biography inherently faces the limits of truly capturing the essence of a person. The author acknowledges that no biography can fully know or portray the inner depths of an individual. These limits are even more apparent when one is writing about someone who is no longer alive, relying on fragmented information and materials. But through Kathy Acker's work, which often explored fragmented identity and experimented with altered states, she allowed readers to join her in a journey of self-discovery. The author of the biography recognizes that these limits apply not only to biography but to the understanding of another individual in any context.
The Changing Landscape of Readership and Privacy
The landscape of readership has drastically changed from Kathy Acker's time. Readers today are more protective of their privacy and take themselves more seriously. The level of intimacy found in Acker's work, which fostered connections with her readers, is often viewed differently now. The author acknowledges that contemporary readers might have a different response and that Acker's work might be met with more resistance and criticism in today's cultural landscape.
Twenty years after Kathy Acker's untimely death, Chris Kraus has provided the first full biography of the avant-garde artist, writer and counter-cultural heroine. Sheila Heti writes of After Kathy Acker (Allen Lane) 'This is a gossipy, anti-mythic artist biography which feels like it's being told in one long rush of a monologue over late-night drinks by someone who was there.' On the 25th September, Chris Kraus, the author of amongst many other books I Love Dick ('the most important book about men and women written in the last century.' according to Emily Gould in the Guardian) was joined in conversation about Acker by writer Juliet Jacques, the author of Trans: A Memoir (Verso).
