INFLAMMATORY ESSAYSJenny holzer, 1979-82
A CRUEL BUT ANCIENT LAW
DEMANDS AN EYE FOR AN EYE.
MURDER MUST BE ANSWERED BY
EXECUTION. ONLY GOD HAS THE
RIGHT TO TAKE LIFE AND
WHEN SOMEONE BREAKS THIS
LAW HE WILL BE PUNISHED. JUSTICE
MUST COME SWIFTLY. IT DOESN'T
HELP ANYONE TO STALL. THE
VICTIM'S FAMILY CRIES OUT FOR
SATISFACTION. THE COMMUNITY
BEGS FOR PROTECTION AND THE
DEPARTED CRAVES VENGANCE SO
HE CAN REST. THE KILLER KNEW IN
ADVANCE THERE WAS NO EXCUSE
FOR HIS ACT. TRULY HE HAS
TAKEN HIS OWN LIFE. HE, NOT
SOCIETY, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS
FATE. HE ALONE STANDS GUILTY
AND DAMNED.
CHANGE IS THE BASIS OF ALL HISTORY,
THE PROOF OF VIGOR. THE OLD IS SOILED
AND DISGUSTING BY NATURE. STALE
FOOD IS REPELLENT, MONOGAMOUS LOVE
BREEDS CONTEMPT, SENILITY CRIPPLES
THE GOVERNMENT THAT IS TOO
POWERFUL TOO LONG. UPHEAVAL IS
DESIRABLE BECAUSE FRESH, UNTAINTED
GROUPS SEIZE OPPORTUNITY. VIOLENT
OVERTHROW IS APPROPRIATE WHEN THE
SITUATION IS INTOLERABLE. SLOW
MODIFICATION CAN BE EFFECTIVE;
MEN CHANGE BEFORE THEY NOTICE
AND RESIST. THE DECADENT AND THE
POWERFUL CHAMPION CONTINUITY.
"NOTHING ESSENTIAL CHANGES." THAT
IS A MYTH. IT WILL BE REFUTED. THE
NECESSARY BIRTH CONVULSIONS WILL BE
TRIGGERED. ACTION WILL BRING THE
EVIDENCE TO YOUR DOORSTEP.
A REAL TORTURE WOULD BE TO
BUILD A SPARKLING CAGE WITH
TWO-WAY MIRRORS AND STEEL
BARS. IN THERE WOULD BE GOOD-
LOOKING AND YOUNG GIRLS
WHO'LL THINK THEY'RE IN A
REGULAR MOTEL ROOM SO THEY'LL
TAKE THEIR CLOTHS OFF AND DO
THE DELICATE THINGS THAT GIRLS
DO WHEN THEY'RE ALONE/
EVERYONE WHO WATCHES WILL GO
CRAZY BECAUSE THEY WON'T BE
BELIEVING WHAT THEY'RE SEEING
BUT THEY'LL SEE THE BARS AND
KNOW THEY CAN'T GET IN, AND
THEY'LL BE AFRAID TO MAKE A
MOVE BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT
TO SCARE THE GIRLS AWAY FROM
DOING THE DELICIOUS THINGS
THEY'RE DOING.
CHILD MOLESTATION IS ABHORRENT;
THIS DEVIATION IS UNIVERSALLY
CONDEMNED. ALL PEOPLE ARE SICKENED
AND ENRAGED BY THE ACT. IT IS TELLING
THAT PRISONERS.. WHOA RE NOT KNOWN
FOR THEIR HIGH STANDARDS, OSTRACIZE
AND KILL CHILD MOLESTERS. NO PUNISHMENT
IS TOO SEVERE; CHILD MOLESTERS HAVE
ROBBED THE BABIES OF THEIR INNOCENCE,
THE MOST PRECIOUS POSSESSION OF
CHILDHOOD. MOLESTATION LEAVES
SPRITUAL, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL
WOUNDS THAT MAY NEVER HEAL. THE
FRIGHTENING ASPECT OF THE ABUSE IS
THAT MOLESTED CHILDREN OFTEN
BECOME THE MOLESTERS. THE AWFUL
CYCLE MUST BE STOPPED BEFORE ANDY
MORE CHILDREN ARE DEFILED AND
RUINED. MOLESTERS SHOULD BE
RENDERED IMPOTENT.
BECAUSE THERE IS NO GOD SOMEONE
MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR MEN.
A CHARISMATIC LEADER IS IMPERATIVE
HE CAN SUBORDINATE THE SMALL
WILLS TO THE GREAT ONE. HIS
STRENGHT AND HIS VISION REDEEM
MEN. HIS PERFECTION MAKES THEM
GREATFUL. LIFE ITSELF IS NOT SACRED,
THERE IS NO DIGNITY IN THE FLESH.
UNDIRECTED MEN ARE CONTENT WITH
RANDOM, SQUALID, POINTLESS LIVES.
THE LEADER GIVES DIRECTION AND
PURPOSE. THE LEADER FORCES GREAT
ACCOMPLISHMENTS, MANDATES PEACE
AND REPELS OUTSIDE AGRESSERS.
HE IS THE ARCHITECT OF DESTINY. HE
DEMANDS ABSOLUTE LOYALTY. HE
MERITS UNQUESTIONING DEVOTION.
HE ASKS THE SUPREAM SACRIFICE. HE IS
THE ONLY HOPE
DESTROY SUPERABUNDANCE, STARVE THE
FLESH, SHAVE THE HAIR, EXPOSE THE BONE,
CLARIFY THE MIND, DEFINE THE WILL,
RESTRAIN THE SENSES, LEAVE THE FAMILY,
FLEE THE CHURCH, KILL THE VERMIN,
VOMIT THE HEART, FORGET THE DEAD,
LIMIT TIME, FORGO AMUSEMENT, DENY
NATURE, REJECT ACQUANTANCES
DISCARD OBJECTS, FORGET TRUTHS,
DISSECT MYTH, STOP MOTION, BLOCK
IMPULSE, CHOCK SOBS, SWALLOW CHATTER.
SCORN JOY, SCORN TOUCH, SCORN
TRAGIDY, SCORN LIBERTY, SCORN
CONSISTANCY, SCORN HOPE, SCORN
EXALTATION, SCORN REPRODUCTION,
SCORN RELEASE, SCORN REST, SCORN
SWEETNESS, SCORN THE LIGHT. IT IS A
QUESTION OF FORM AND FUNCTION. IT IS
A MATTER OF REVULSION.
DON'T TALK DOWN TO ME
DON'T BE POLITE TO ME. DON'T
TRY TO MAKE ME FEEL NICE.
DON'T RELAX. I'LL CUT THE
SMILE OFF YOUR FACE. YOU
THINK I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
GOING ON. YOU THINK I'M
AFRAID TO REACT. THE JOKE'S
ON YOU. I'M BIDDING MY TIME,
LOOKING FOR THE SPOT. YOU
THINK NO ONE CAN REACH
YOU, NO ONE CAN HAVE WHAT
YOU HAVE. I'VE BEEN PLANNING
WHILE YOU'RE PLAYING. I'VE
BEEN SAVING WHILE YOU'RE
SPENDING. THE GAME IS ALMOST
OVER SO IT'S TIME YOU
WANT TO FALL NOT EVER
KNOWING WHO TOOK YOU?
IT ALL HAS TO BURN, IT'S GOING
TO BLAZE. IT'S FILTHY AND CAN'T
BE SAVED. A COUPLE OF GOOD
THINGS WILLL BURN WITH THE REST
BUT IT'S O.K., EVERY PEICE IS PART
OF THE UGLY WHOLE. EVERYTHING
CONSPIRES TO KEEP YOU HUNGRY
AND AFRAID FOR YOUR BABIES.
DON'T WAIT ANY LONGER.
WAITING IS WEAKNESS, WEAKNESS
IS SLAVERY. BURN DOWN THE
SYSTEM THAT HAS NO PLACE FOR
YOU, RISE TRIUMPHANT FROM THE
ASHES. FIRE PURIFYS AND
RELEASES ENERGY. FIRE GIVES
HEAT AND LIGHT. LET FIRE BE THE
CELEBRATION OF YOUR
DELIVERANCE. LET LIGHTNING
STRIKE, LET THE FLAMES DECOUR
THE ENEMY!
FEAR IS THE MOST ELEGANT WEAPON.
YOUR HANDS ARE NEVER MESSY.
THREATENING BODILY HARM IS CRUDE.
WORK INSTEAD ON MINDS AND BELIEFS,
PLAY INSECURITYS LIKE A PIANO. BE
CREATIVE IN APPROACH. FORCE ANXIETY
TO EXCRUCIATING LEVELS OR GENTLY
UNDERMINE THE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE.
PANIC DRIVES HUMAN HERDS OVER
CLIFFS; AN ALTERNATIVE IS TERROR-
INDUCED IMMOBILIZATION. FEAR FEEDS
ON FEAR. PUT THIS EFFICANT PROCESS IN
MOTION. MANIPULATION IS NOT LIMITED
TO PEOPLE. ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND
DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS CAN BE
SHAKEN. IT WILL BE DEMONSTRATED
THAT NOTHING IS SAFE, SACRED OR SANE.
THERE IS NO RESPITE FROM HORROR.
ABSOLUTES ARE QUICKSILVER. RESULTS
ARE SPECTACULAR.
MONDAY, SOMEONE DIED BECAUSE
HE HURT ME AND I CUT HIM
WITHOUT THINKING. TUESDAY,
SOME ANIMAL DIED BECAUSE HE
WAS TO DANGEROUS TO BE FREE.
WEDNESDAY, A THIEF DIED SO
EVERYONE WILL KNOW TO RESPECT
PRIVATE PROPERTY. THURSDAY,
SOME POLITICO DIED BECAUSE HIS
IDEAS WERE CRAZY AND TOO
CONTAGIOUS. FRIDAY, SOME
RAPIST DIED BECAUSE HE LEFT HIS
VICTIM WISHING SHE WERE DEAD.
HE HAD TO DIE WISHING HE WAS
ALIVE. SATURDAY, I KILLED A
CONDEMNED MAN SO NO ONE
ELSE WOULD GET BLOOD ON HIS
HANDS. SUNDAY, I RESTED. MONDAY,
SIX PEOPLE JUMPED ME SO I CUT
THEM WITHOUT THINKING.
FREEDOM IS IT! YOU'RE SO SCARED.
YOU WANT TO LOCK UP EVERYBODY.
ARE THEY MAD DOGS? ARE THEY
OUT TO KILL? MAYBE YES. IS LAW, IS
ORDER THE SOLUTION? DEFINITELY
NO. WHAT CAUSED THIS SITUATION?
LACK OF FREEDOM. WHAT HAPPENS
NOW? LET PEOPLE FUFILL THEIR
NEEDS. IS FREEDOM CONSTRUCTIVE
OR IS IT DESTRUCTIVE? THE ANSWER
IS OBVIOUS. FREE PEOPLE ARE
GOOD, PRODUCTIVE PEOPLE. IS
LIBERATION DANGEROUS? ONLY
WHEN OVERDUE. PEOPLE AREN'T
BORN RABID OR BERSERK. WHEN
YOU PUNISH AND SHAME YOU
CAUSE WHAT YOU DREAD. WHAT
TO DO? LET IT EXPLODE. RUN WITH
IT. DON'T CONTROLL OR MANIPULATE.
MAKE AMENDS.
PEOPLE MUST PAY FOR WHAT THEY
HOLD, FOR WHAT THEY STEAL. YOU
HAVE LIVED OF THE FAT OF THE
LAND. NOW YOU ARE THE PIG WHO
IS READY FOR SLAUGHTER. YOU ARE
THE OLD ENEMY, THE NEW VICTIM.
WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING AWFUL
EXPECT RETRIBUTION IN KIND.
LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER.
SOMEONE IS FOLLOWING. THE POOR
YOU HAVE ROBBED AND IGNORED
ARE IMPATIENT. PLEAD INNOCENT;
YOUR SQUEALS INVITE TORTURE.
PROMISE TO BE GOOD; YOUR LIES
EXCITE AND INFLAME. YOU ARE
TOO DEPRAVED TO REFORM, TOO
TREACHEROUS TO SPARE. TOO
HISEOUS FOR MERCY. RUN! JUMP!
HIDE! PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE
HUNTERS.
REJOICE! OUR TIMES ARE INTOLERABLE..
TAKE COURAGE, FOR THE WORST IS A
HARBINGER OF THE BEST. ONLY DIRE
CIRCUMSTANCE CAN PRECIRITATE
THE OVERTHROW OF OPPRESSORS.
THE OLD AND CORRUPT MUST BE LAID
TO WASTE BEFORE THE JUST CAN
TRIUMPH. OPPOSITION IDENTIFYS AND
ISOLATES THE ENEMY. CONFLICT OF
INTEREST MUST BE SEEN FOR WHAT IT
IS. DO NOT SUPPORT PALLIATIVE
GESTURES; THEY CONFUSE THE PEOPLE
AND DELAY THE INEVITABLE
CONFRONTATION. DELAY IS NOT
TOLERATED FOR IT JEOPARDIZES THE
WELL-BEING OF THE MAJORITY..
CONTRADICTION WILL BE HEIGHTENED,
THE RECKONING WILL BE HASTENED BY
THE STAGING OF SEED DISTURBANCES..
THE APOCALYPSE WILL BLOSSOM.
SENTIMENTALITY DELAYS TEH REMOVAL OF
THE POLITICALLY BACKWARD AND THE
ORGANICALLY UNSOUND. RIGOROUS
SELECTION IS MANDATORY IN SOCIAL AND
GENETIC ENGINEERING. INCORRECT
MERCIFUL IMPULSES POSTPONE THE
CLEANSING THAT PRECEDES REFORM. SHORT-
TERM NICETIES MUST YEILD TO LONG-RANGE
MECESSITY. MORALS WILL BE REVISED TO
MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF TODAY.
MEANINGLESS PLATITUDES WILL BE PULLED
FROM TONGUES AND MINDS. WORDS LIKE
"PURGE" AND "EUTHANASIA" DESERVE NEW
CONNOTATIONS. THEY SHOULD BE
RECOGNIZED AS THE RATIONAL PUBLIC
POLICIES THEY ARE. THE GREATEST DANGER
IS NOT EXCESSIVE ZEAL BUT UNDUE
HESITATION. WE WILL LEARN TO IMITATE
NATURE. HER KILLS NOURISH STRONG LIFE.
SQUEAMISHNESS IS THE CRIME.
REPRESSING SEX URGES IS SO BAD.
POISON DAMS UP INSIDE AND
THEN IT MUST COME OUT. WHEN
SEX IS HELD BACL TOO LONG IT COMES OUT FAST AND WILD. IT CAN DO ALOT OF HARM.
INNOCENT PEOPLE GET SHOT OR CUT BY CONFUSED SEX URGES. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT HIT THEM UNTIL TOO LATE. PARENTS SHOULD LET CHILDREN EXPRESS THEMSELVES SO THEY DON'T GET MEAN EARLY. ADULTS SHOULD MAKE SURE THEY FIND MANY OUTLETS. ALL PEOPLE SHOULD RESPOND TO BIG SEX NEEDS. DON'T MAKE FUN OF INDIVIDUALS AND SEND THEM AWAY. IT'S BETTER TO VOLUNTEER THAN TO GET FORCED.
SHRIEK WHEN THE PAIN HITS DURING INTERROGATION. REACH INTO THE DARK AGES TO FIND A SOUND THAT IS LIQUID HORROR, A SOUND OF THE BRINK WHERE MAN STOPS AND THE BEAST AND NAMELESS CRUEL FORCES BEGIN. SCREAM WHEN YOUR LIFE IS THREATENED. FORM A NOISE SO TRUE THAT YOUR TORMENTOR RECOGNIZES IT AS A VOICE THAT LIVES IN HIS OWN THROAT. THE TRUE SOUND TELLS HIM THAT HE
CUTS HIS FLESH WHEN HE CUTS YOURS, THAT HE CANNOT THRIVE AFTER HE TORTURES YOU. SCREAM THAT HE DESTROYS ALL THE KINDNESS IN YOU AND BLACKENS EVERY VISION YOU COULD HAVE SHOWN HIM.
RUIN YOUR FUCKING SELF BEFORE
THEY DO. OTHERWISE THEY'LL
SCREW YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE A
NOBODY. THEY'LL KEEP YOU
ALIVE BUT YOU'LL HAVE TO
CRAWL AND SAY "THANK YOU"
FOR EVERY BONE THEY THROW.
YOU MIGHT AS WELL STAY
DRUNK OR SHOOT JUNK AND
BE A CRAZY FUCKER. IF THE RICH
GUYSWANT TO PLAY WITH YOU,
MAKE THEM GET THEIR HANDS
DIRTY. SEND THEM AWAY
GAGGING, OR SOBBING IF
THEY'RE SOFTHEARTED. YOU'LL BE
LEFT ALONE IF YOU;RE FRIGHTENING,
AND DEAD YOU'RE FREE! YOU
CAN CHANGE THE RADIANT CHILD
IN YOU TO A REFLECTION OF THE
SHIT YOU WERE MENT TO SERVE.
SNAKES ARE EVIL INCARNATE.
THEY ARE A MANIFESTATION
OF THE DARK SIDE OF NATURE.
THEY LIE TWINED UP IN DAMP
PLACES, THEIR BODYS COLD TO
THE TOUCH. THE FORM OF THE SNAKE
IS DREADFUL; THE TOUNGUE AND
WORM- BODY INSPIRE LOATHING.
THE SERPENT IS SLY, HE ABIDES
WHERE YOU KNOW NOT.
HE COMES CRAWLING TO BITE
AND POISON. HE HAS MULTIPLIED
SO HE INFESTS THE FACE OF
THE EARTH. HE IS NOT CONTENT
TO BE, HE MUST CORRUPT
THAT WHICH IS PURE.
THE APPEARANCE OF THE SERPENT
SIGNIFIES THAT ALL IS LOST.
HE IS A SYMBOL OF OUR FAILURE
AND OUR FATE.
THE END OF THE U.S.A.
ALL YOU RICH FUCKERS SEE THE
BEGINNING OF THE END AND
TAKE WHAT YOU CAN WHILE
YOU CAN. YOU IMAGINE THAT
YOU WILL GET AWAY, BUT
YOU'VE SHIT IN YOUR OWN BED
AND YOU'RE THE ONE TO SLEEP
IN IT.WHY SHOULD EVERYONE
ELSE STAY BEHIND AND SMELL
YOUR STINKING COWARDICE?
HERE'S A MESSAGE TO YOU--
SPACE TRAVEL IS UNCERTAIN
AND ANY REFUGE OF YOURS
CAN BE BLOWN OFF THE MAP.
THERE'S NO OTHER PLACE FOR
YOU TO GO. KNOW THAT YOUR
FUTURE IS WITH US SO DON'T
GIVE US MORE REASONS TO
HATE YOU.
WHEN YOU START TO LIKE PAIN THINGS
GET INTERESTING. PAIN IS THE COMMON
RESULT OF A SUBORDINATE POSITION.
TRADITIONALLY, SUFFERING IS
UNCOMFORTABLE AND UNDESIRABLE.
PERHAPS IT IS MORE INTELLIGENT TO
CULTIVATE PAIN AS A MEANS OF
LIBERATION? IS IT POSSIBLE THAT
ENJOYMENT OF PAIN CAN BE
SUBVERSIVE? WHEN ONE DOES NOT
FEAR PAIN, ONE CANNOT BE
MANIPULATED. WHEN AROUSED BY
SUFFERING, ONE CAN CONTROL ANY
RELATIONSHIP. WHEN AGONY SEASES
TO BE A BARRIER, DEATH IS NOT
FORBIDDING. THE IMPLICATIONS ARE
MARVELOUS. PAIN IS NOT OPPRESSIVE,
BUT STRENGTHENING AND MOST
SUBLIME. IT IS NECESSARY ONLY TO
DENY THE PLEASURE-PAIN DICHOTOMY.
THE MOST EXQUISITE PLEASURE IS
DOMINATION. NOTHING CAN
COMPARE WITH THE FEELING. THE
MENTAL SENSATIONS ARE EVEN
BETTER THAN THE PHYSICAL ONES.
KNOWING YOU HAVE POWER HAS
TO BE THE BIGGEST HIGH, THE
GREATEST COMFORT. IT IS
COMPLETE SECURITY, PROTECTION
FROM HURT.WHEN YOU DOMINATE
SOMEBODY YOU'RE DOING HIM A
FAVOR. HE PRAYS SOMEONE WILL
CONTROL HIM. YOU'RE HELPING
HIM WHILE HELPING YOURSELF.
EVEN WHEN YOU GET MEAN HE
LIKES IT. SOMETIMES HE'S ANGRY
AND FIGHTS BACK BUT YOU CAN
HANDLE IT. HE ALWAYS REMEMBERS
WHAT HE NEEDS. YOU ALWAYS GET
WHAT YOU WANT.
YOU GET AMAZING SENSATIONS FROM
GUNS. YOU GET RESULTS FROM GUNS.
MAN IS AN AGGRESSIVE ANIMAL; YOU
HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD OFFENSE AND
A GOOD DEFENSE. TOO MANY
CITIZENS THINK THEY ARE HELPLESS.
THEY LEAVE EVERYTHING TO THE
AUTHORITIES AND THIS CAUSES
CORRUPTION. RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD
GO BACK WHERE IT BELONGS. IT IS
YOUR LIFE SO TAKE CONTROL AND
FEEL VITAL. THERE MAY BE SOME
ACCIDENTS ALONG THE PATH TO
SELF-EXPRESSION AND SELF-
DETERMINATION. SOME HARMLESS
PEOPLE WILL BE HURT. HOWEVER,
G-U-N SPELLS PRIDE TO THE STRONG,
SAFETY TO THE WEAK AND HOPE TO
THE HOPELESS. GUNS MAKE WRONG
RIGHT FAST.
WHAT SCARES PEASANTS IS
THINKING THEIR BODIES WILL BE
THROWN OUT IN PUBLIC AND LEFT
TO ROT. THEY FEEL SHAME- AS IF
IT MATTERS WHAT POSITION THEIR
LEGS ARE IN WHEN THEY'RE DEAD.
LUCKY THEY'RE SUPERSTITIOUS
BECAUSE THEY'RE EASIER TO
MANAGE.. MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF
TWO OR THREE REBELS, DROP
THEIR BODIES BY THE ROAD, GET
THEM FLAT AND DRY SO BONES
SHOW AND THE GRASS WEARS
THE CLOTHES. SHOOT THE FINGERS
OFF ANYONE WHO COMES TO
COLLECT THE REMAINS. THOSE BODIES
STAY AS A SIGN OF ABSOLUTE
AUTHORITY. IF PEASANTS THINK
THAT THEIR SOULS CAN'T REST, SO
MUCH THE BETTER.
YOU GET SO YOU DON'T EVEN
NOTICE THE HALF-DEAD
VAGRANTS ON THE STREET.
THEY'RE ONLY DIRTY GHOSTS.
THE ONES WHO SEND SHIVERS
DOWN YOUR SPINE ARE THE
UNEMPLOYED WHO AREN'T WEAK
YET. THEY STILL CAN FIGHT AND
RUN WHEN THEY WANT TO. THEY
STILL THINK, AND YET THEY KNOW
THEY HATE YOU. YOU WON'T BE
A PRETTY SIGHT IF THEY GO FOR
YOU. WHEN YOU'RE OUT
WALKING YOU LOOK AT THE MEN
FOR SIGNS OF LINGERING HEALTH
AND OBVIOUS HATRED. YOU
EVEN WATCH THE FALLEN ONES
WHO MIGHT MAKE A LAST MOVE,
WHO MIGHT CLAW YOUR ANKLE
AND TAKE YOU DOWN.
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