Why are people not creeped out by Marina Abramovic?

All the pizza gate conspiracy theories aside, I find her "art" very disturbing. The fact that animal blood and animal sacrifice has been involved in some of it is enough to freak me out, but her "The Artist is Present" exhibit a few years ago just seemed thoroughly bizarre. I understand the meditative endurance aspect, but on the flip side, I can see how everything she does could be read as some sort of esoteric witchcraft, and this seems like a perfect example.

Would it having a double function of witchcraft impact her artist stardom and income?

The two could be inseparable, R1, but I don't know how to fully answer that. It is clear that she is harnessing energy in spaces, and she admits to this. It's all very metaphysical, but there is an undertone to it all that feels icky to me. The sitting exhibit where patrons could face her across a table feels like people surrendering to her, for unknown purposes—the goal is oblique to the viewer/participant, as is exactly what they're participating in.

Wow, if only "esoteric witchcraft," or any witchcraft, actually existed.

I see your point and would suggest avoiding her. I don't get involved in any esoteric stuff as I was WARNED in high school to stay away from it for my entire life. So if I get creeped out in situations, in that line of energy, I disengage and move away. Other people are much more resistant.

What a small world you live in, R3

I hear you OP, she is a bit creepy but idk about the witch stuff. I kinda saw The Artist is Present as an experiment in people being really “seen” in today’s modern, disconnected world - then I watched the documentary, did you see it? I was disturbed by footage of an old project where she and her ex were repeatedly running into one another her at full speed while naked. I forget the other pieces but I’m turned off by how she uses her body in her work and pushes it to the limit.

Also, what’s with the plastic surgery?

I thought we only referred to Tori Amos as a witch around here. Where are the Dark Lesbians to verify?

I've been warned to never sleep on the same roof as Arielle Dombasle.

I think she's just a pretentious, manipulative twat. No witch.

It's plenty big. It's an entire universe full of mystery and discovery.

R11 no, your perspective is obviously limited to the cartoonish idea of witchcraft, which is all Hocus Pocus, Salem Witch Trials, "burn the witch!" crap. I am talking about metaphysics and energy manipulation, which is what she admits to doing. To think that such things are out of the realm of possibility or could be used for bad is incredibly naive.

^ couldn't* be used for bad

OP consider this; if you give something your attention and even a name you speak aloud, THEN you have given that something power.

This woman is a charlatan.

I found that 'looking eye to eye' performance rather sad - sad that all the participants cry because they don't have the opportunity to eyeball someone in real life. Pathetic actually.

It takes 'art' for someone to eyeball another human? Stupid New Yorkers.

Did she train Madonna in sucking the youth out of young people?

She has powers of endurance and concentration that most people can't begin to comprehend. She paid her dues living in a fucking van for years and performing all over Europe. She's one of the inventors of performance art. She made political art that was actually good. Who else did that? Well, there's Yeats...

Qigong + Brazilian shamanism.

I visited her exhibition in Venice last year. Knew her name, but didnt know anything about her art. Let's just say she made the impression. It was incredibly powerful and emotional, in a good way.

[quote] I found that 'looking eye to eye' performance rather sad - sad that all the participants cry because they don't have the opportunity to eyeball someone in real life.

I can see how someone could find her a bit of a con honestly but I thought The Artist is Present was a little deeper than that. The idea of someone's interior life coming out or some sort of emotional clarity or mind-meld reached through the connection between sitter and artist. If you look at her history, she's done some interesting and powerful pieces. There's a consistency there in a space of art that's really pretty ephemeral.

Am I defending Marina now? She's not my favorite artist and she's reducing her work to straight up meditation these days but I thought it was good of MoMA to showcase a performance art career. Going back to the OP, yes, she is clearly a fan of occult themes. I'm not personally afraid of these dabblings. It's a framework for her to tap into the emotional intensity and concentration and power she wants to convey and explore.

Days before the election, Wikileaks released a batch of emails containing a note from performance artist Marina Abramovic to Tony Podesta, brother of Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman John Podesta, and set off a strange chain reaction of accusations that tied Clinton and Podesta to the occult and Satan worshipping from the alt-right.

Oh God, the #spiritcooking stuff. Poor Marina. It was totally ripe for right wing satan panic insanity. It's was supposed to be edgy! The idea that she's a satanic mastermind makes me laugh..

It reminds me of middle/high school. A certain segment always get into the occult book section at the library and another segment screech that there is witchcraft afoot and their church says demons are real. In reality they're all basic bitches crying out for the attention that they were deprived of as a child. It's embarrassing that none of them can move past this phase of development.

When you read into Marina, there is a lot of very simple acting out from her upbringing going on.

OP also claims his parents were satanists who sacrificed babies in front of him.

She is a grifter, leaving a trail of unpaid assistants.

I saw her at MoMA. Breezed by the sitting/stare thing. She lost all credibility when she did that insipid stuff with gaga.

The same people creeped out by her would be perfectly comfortable watching a witch burning.

Are all performance artists so "out there" or would edgy be the more appropriate term?

R30, Must disagree with your viewpoint. Marina creeps me out in the same way as the very idea of a witch burning or public execution or even a mock hanging. Exactly like I used to appreciate Lady Gaga and Katy Perry now avoid the music video's of both of them.

Dark is not the same thing as deep.

Tony P. is far darker still. Where IS he these days?

MANY were and are creeped out by these 2 and the art they choose to surround themselves with. Talk about energy. His pointy little teeth and dead eyes are particularly creepy, and as for Heather, well, the vibe did not diminish post divorce. I mean, who would NOT want a gilt Dahlmer inspired sculpture hanging in the foyer? Who would not fight over art depicting cannibalism and nude and frightened children?

Add Marina to the mix? Shudder.

Of course Jay was ALL over Marina, as was Gaga.

Well Hon< I just want to thank you for you for bringing this up. this chick is definitately not right.

[quote]I think she's just a pretentious, manipulative twat.

Ding ding ding! Right answer!

I think she's great. Why are people so ignorant and narrow-minded and crybabies when it comes to performance art?

Because it doesn't look like this R38

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