Kathy Acker: Get Rid of Meaning

We are delighted to announce the publication of the book Kathy Acker: Get Rid of Meaning.

American author Kathy Acker was one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. Working in an experimental and avant-garde tradition between the early 1970s and the late 1990s, she wrote numerous novels, essays, poems, and novellas. As a postmodernist, plagiarist, and post-punk feminist, she continues to inspire generations of writers, philosophers, and artists.

Get Rid of Meaning is the first comprehensive publication on Acker’s work from an artistic and literary perspective—grew out of a multilayered exhibition and symposium at the Badischer Kunstverein, Karlsruhe, Germany.

Structured and designed by Will Holder, the book reflects a long-term research project and provides new insights into Acker’s kaleidoscopic work: It presents previously unpublished material from Acker’s personal archive and other collections, works by contemporary artists addressing Acker’s oeuvre, and in-depth essays by the outstanding academics, writers, and artists who have worked with us throughout the project. The exhibition views included in the book demonstrate the visual dialogue between Acker’s books and manuscripts, her personal library, archival materials, and the artist’s works.

Centered in a 1:1 format on Acker’s notebooks for Blood and Guts in High School, Get Rid of Meaning allows readers and researchers to immerse themselves in a conversation between Kathy Acker’s work and her readers, commentators, and heirs.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who accompanied and supported us on this journey.

The book features texts by: Kathy Acker, Dodie Bellamy, Hanjo Berressem, Ruth Buchanan, Georgina Colby, Leslie Dick, Claire Finch, Johnny Golding, Anja Kirschner, Chris Kraus, Sylvère Lotringer, Douglas A. Martin, Jason McBride, Karolin Meunier and Kerstin Stakemeier, Avital Ronell, Daniel Schulz, Matias Viegener, and McKenzie Wark.
With an introduction by Anja Casser and Matias Viegener.

The exhibition included works by: Eleanor Antin, Alan Benson, Ruth Buchanan, Pauline Boudry / Renate Lorenz, Kathy Brew, Kaucyila Brooke, William S. Burroughs, Jonathan Dawson, Michel Delsol, Leslie Dick & Audrey Wollen, Diane DiMassa & Freddie Baer, Lynn Hershman Leeson, Anja Kirschner, Robert Kushner, Marcus Leatherdale, Sylvère Lotringer, Jackson Mac Low, Jo Mazelis, The Mekons, Karolin Meunier, Ulrike Müller, Lil Picard, Jill Posener, Steve Pyke, Val Rauzier, Natascha Sadr Haghighian, Carolee Schneemann, Alan Sondheim, Kika Thorne, César Vallejo, and Del LaGrace Volcano.
Exhibition design by Fotini Lazaridou-Hatzigoga.

Editors: Anja Casser and Matias Viegener

Managing Editors: Anja Casser, Will Holder, and Matias Viegener

Publication Management: Yvonne Fomferra

Design and Typesetting: Will Holder, assisted by Andrea di Serego Alighieri

Copyediting: Jill Denton

Proof reading: Tas Skorupa, Sabrina Tarasoff

Printing: Talinn Book Printers, Laki 26, EE-12915 Talinn

Kathy Acker. Get Rid of Meaning is published by Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther und Franz König, Cologne.

ISBN: 978-3-7533-0118-1

The book can be purchased at Buchhandlung Walther und Franz König or at Badischer Kunstverein for 28 EUR; reduced 24 EUR (for Kunstverein members).

Please direct orders to: info@badischer-kunstverein.de or verlag@buchhandlung-walther-koenig.de