Pope.L Eracism (version 8b) 2000

  • Not on view

Eracism is a set of nine scripted “solo art performance lectures” that investigate race, sexuality, and nationalism in the United States. Interspersed with songs and actions, the performances combine elements of experimental theater and stand-up comedy.

Eracism (version 8b), the iteration seen here, features a character named Mr. Poots (played by Pope.L) wearing a semitransparent tulle dress, a green headband, work boots, and a makeshift codpiece forged from a jockstrap fused with gaffers tape to a plastic bottle with an eye drawn on it. Periodically, Mr. Poots opens a case and pulls out a glass jar filled with water and pours it over his head as he recites a meandering dialogue on “the spectrum of hate, the spectrum of night, the spectrum of invisible light which is American racism.”

Gallery label from October 21, 2019–February 1, 2020
Medium
Video (color, sound; 10:24 min); five inkjet prints; three green glass bottles in plastic and metal suitcase; two works on sewn cloth with Velcro; green terrycloth headband; red terrycloth Croakie; painted wooden table and legs; painted wooden bench; cotton, polyester, and tulle dress; and Lycra, cotton, and plastic jockstrap with plastic case
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of The Jill and Peter Kraus Media and Performance Acquisition Fund, Jill and Peter Kraus, Anne and Joel S. Ehrenkranz, The Contemporary Arts Council of The Museum of Modern Art, and Jill and Peter Kraus in honor of Michael Lynne
Object number
84.2019.1-15
Copyright
© 2024 Pope.L. Courtesy of the artist.
Department
Media and Performance

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