After the Death of God (famously proclaimed by the philosopher Nietzsche who anticipated the end of religion in Western society), Athey considers it one of the artist’s roles to invent new forms of ritual and celebration, to conjure the sacred as an antidote to the empty individualism of contemporary life.
For his new work, Acephalous Monster, Athey turns to the Acéphale, the figure of the headless man, which inspired George Bataille’s secret society of the same name to combat nihilism and fascism before the Second World War in France. The headless or beheaded man is a powerful symbol of radical transformation, the driving force of all of Athey’s performances pushing towards the merging of humans and gods
Age Guidance: 18
Show Notes: No Intermission
Audience Advisory:
Adult content Graphic disturbing imagery Post-show talk on Friday, November 16 with Cynthia Carr.
Performance Schedule:
WEDNESDAY thru SATURDAY @ 7 PM
Written by
Ron Athey
Choreography
Ron Athey