Andrea Peyser: The Brooklyn Museum Will Rot In Hell

David Wojnarowicz's "A Fire in My Belly" (Brooklyn Museum/ AP)

Last week, the Daily News was all up in arms over the Brooklyn Museum's decision to screen a clip from David Wojnarowicz's avant-garde film "A Fire In My Belly," which includes a 10-second shot of ants crawling over a crucifix. Four days later, the NY Post is finally getting in on the action, too, siccing atheist-hating columnist Andrea Peyser on the exhibit, and boy howdy, does she come out swinging:

Calling the exhibit the start of "Open Season—on faith," Peyser labels Wojnarowicz's film "gross," makes sure to note that he was a former prostitute who died of AIDS complications, and explains that she understands art:

"...the aim here is clear. The work must disgust and repel the museum’s gullible audience of bourgeois culture vultures, and make them think the revolting piece of slime is great “art.” Only an ignoramus—or worse, a Christian—would find the piece blasphemous or plain immoral, proponents say. Art lovers are such sheep."

She quotes an "art patron and mom" calling the video "stupid, disrespectful crap," then disses director Arnold Lehman, who wouldn't talk to Peyser (or any members of the press) before the exhibit opens this Friday. In the meantime, Wojnarowicz, from his grave, told Peyser it's just as well that she stays far away, lest she pick up AIDS from the exhibit.

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By Jamie Feldmar in Arts & Entertainment on November 14, 2011 4:50 PM

Comments [rss]

Sluggo1407

Somebody should nail Peyser to a cross. She's nothing but a vitriolic twat.

Adam Moreira

They will rot in hell...and I'll greet them at the front door. They said the same thing in the 1990s.

Mordicai

Hey, Andrea-- you are more than welcome to hate it! I'm actually perfectly willing to accept your criticisms of the piece. & it does seem pretty sophomoric to me; I find that sort of trite shock art to be so yawn worthy. Anyhow, I am all for you using your column as art critique. Thanks for not calling for the pieces removal or trying to ignite some cry for censorship. You're well within your rights to dislike a piece & you've got a platform to share it-- I'm cool with that.

luke_1

It is only shock art if you choose to be shocked by it. How did all these neo-con freaks even find out about a few seconds of footage in a longer montage, created in the late 1980s? It is just another talking point for them.

Frankly, I find just about everything else in the short (lots of animal cruelty/violence) more shocking than the ants. edit: er, the animal stuff is in a different version, but the clip is still pretty disturbing unless, I suppose, one is just parsing it for anti-catholic sentiment--which of course the ants and cross were not meant to be.

Mordicai

I dunno, I'd still call Howard Stern a "shock jock" even if I find his brand of mouthiness to be banal as hell. Anyhow, my point it-- Andrea Peyser hating something is absolutely fine. She's not calling for intolerance or censorship, which in the Peyserverse is a total win. I might disagree with her, but hell, it is better than her normal behavior by miles.

Greg Froober

Funny that she used the words "gullible" and "sheep" to describe art enthusiasts, when those words far more adequately describe religious people.

Bronxalien2013

You wouldnt talk that shit if you were in charge of anything to do with the chosen peeps.

birdtird

Peyser for Mayor!

birdtird

Of a corn hole

kevd

I always make it a point to pay to attend these exhibitions at the Brooklyn Museum. Its the only time I ever actually make it there - to support anything that pisses off Peyser and Giuliani.

chuzzlewit

god doesn't like ants? then why'd he make 'em?

Japan Communication

Congrats to the Brooklyn Museum for getting so much mileage out of a short (and rather derivative) snippet of film. The place was empty as a tomb the last time I was there, so I hope this helps them pack some people in there.

And I hope no one tells Peyser or the Post about Luis Bunuel. Then they'd have to be all up in arms over art that's 80 years old, rather than merely 20.