A Not So Simple Case for Torture
August 21st, 2008
In Spring 2007 at CalArts, I was Teaching Assistant to Nancy Buchanan and Sam Durant for their new course, ID 517: Special Topics in Art and Politics: A Not So Simple Case for Torture. Students from the School of Art and School of Film/Video came together to discuss and make work about government sanctioned use of torture in war and interrogation. We investigated primary documents circulated within the Department of Justice that provided the legal justification for the use of torture. The title of the course referenced Martha Rosler’s video, A Simple Case for Torture, or How to Sleep at Night (1983). There were incredible guest speakers (including Martha Rosler, Dev Nathan, Ashley Hunt, and Gabriele Schwab), readings, screenings, and a class exhibition, Sam and Nancy organized a book project published through onestar press. The book is now available for purchase and download.
Download a free .pdf of the book or purchase a copy here:
http://www.onestarpress.com/A-Not-So-Simple-Case-for-Torture
Direct link to .pdf file: http://www.onestarpress.com/IMG/pdf/durant_int_OK-screen.pdf
As my contribution to the book, I wrote an essay about participating in the March 17, 2007 anti-war protest in Hollywood organized by ANSWER LA and reflections on our interaction with the news media, notably the LA Times. Follow the jump to read.