I Shot Andy Warhol: Includes Valerie Solanas's SCUM Manifesto

by Mary Harron, Daniel Minahan

I Shot Andy Warhol —starring Lili Taylor, Jared Harris, Stephen Dorff, and Martha Plimpton—is the story of Valerie Solanas, the radical feminist and author of SCUM Manifesto (Society for Cutting Up Men) who made headlines in 1968 when she attempted to kill Andy Warhol. I Shot Andy Warhol moves beyond the simplistic view of Valerie as a deranged lesbian acting in revenge for being shunned by the Factory crowd to present a complex figure whose brilliance and passion were clouded by mental instability and a history of abuse.

Genres: Nonfiction, Film, Feminism, Crime

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Mary Harron (born January 12, 1953) is a Canadian filmmaker and screenwriter best known for her films I Shot Andy Warhol, American Psycho and The Notorious Bettie Page.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first saw the movie "I Shot Andy Warhol" many years ago and at that time wanted to read the SCUM Manifesto but never did. The SCUM Manifesto has been published many times over the years, but I would recommend this edition rather than just an edition of the Manifesto as for just a couple of dollars more you get the movie script as well as the foreword by Mary Harron which gives insight and background into Valarie Solanas' life and ideas. Valarie's story is an example of the radicalization of a downtrodden individual (as a result of undiagnosed mental illness and childhood abuse) who was obviously quite bright but unable and unwilling to conform into society. If the SCUM Manifesto is read literally it is a terrorist pamphlet as it calls for the genocide of all men. However, if you take it with a grain of salt, it is a critique of society at the time - 1950's/1960's suburbia springs to mind. In that regard it does have some relevance today in the critique of patriarchy which we are still struggling to escape. I thought Solanas had some interesting ideas about society in general. For example she discusses full automation and a workless society. At one point she calls for all women to either "unwork" (basically a sabotage of the workplace) or go on strike - which Iceland did with magnificent results in the Iceland Women's Strike of October 24, 1975, and which manifested just recently in "a day without a woman". At one point she states: "The purpose of "higher" education is not to educate but to exclude as many as possible from the various professions." This is certainly even more relevant today than it was in Valarie's time with the rising cost of tuition. The only criticism of this edition in general is that the photos included were of the actors portraying the characters - it would have been nice if there had been photos of the real Valarie and the real Andy as well.

[Antonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll be so annoying about this

[Alec Downie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth reading just for the intro and The SCUM Manifesto, which is as brilliant, as it is insane in places.

I am she x

[Tim Sweatshirt · Rating 4 out of 5]

wowzers

actual rage put on paper. love how it's written (the manifesto). most points are so fucking real (except the transphobia). an important and necessary piece of literature. movie script was really cool too.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the movie. SCUM Manifesto is a guilty pleasure, both disturbing and funny. I am reluctant to admit that I am in agreement with some of what she wrote. I wonder how she would have managed in today's more tolerant society.

[Olga Rojas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antes que nada Trigger Warning!!
Empecé este libro en el avión yendo a Zagreb y unos 15 días después lo he terminado. Musha grasia Malina por esta obra de arte
Ejem ejem aquí mis observaciones:
El libro está dividido en 3 partes digamos, la primera es como poco vibe artículo scholar sobre Valerie y su vida sus cosas, el segundo es una obra de teatro contando un poco desde que Valerie conoció a Warhol hasta que le disparó. Y el tercero es el SCUM.
Se me ha hecho bastante difícil de leer, sobre todo la parte del teatro ya que eran personajes nuevos continuamente, sitios que no tenía ni idea... Pero se sobrelleva. Ademas aunque en la primera parte ya se hable un poco de la vida de Valerie, en el play se ve un poco más como recurría a la prostitución y eso le hizo completamente desvincularse del sexo de forma afectiva, ya que ese agency sobre su cuerpo fue arrebatado de ella durante mucho tiempo ya que su stepdad abusaba de ella.
La figura de Valerie me recuerda un poco a Jane Addams. Activismo y necesidad de cambiar el mundo al cual estaba expuesta.
Es cierto que en el Scum manifestó se llevan ideas un poco ñe, y te enteras de la mitad sobre todo cuando habla con tantos eufemismos. Pero de base sus ideas se podrían ver como una interpretación bastante acertada de la división de géneros y de los daños que causa al invidiuo dichas expectativas. Por ejemplo habla de los hombres como si fuesen una isla desierta, encerrados en ellos mismos. Y cosas así puedo extrapolarlo como una repercusión del patriarcado en hombres los cuales son incapaces de expresar sus emociones o de generar conexiones más allá de lo shallow.
En fin, pensando pensamientos pensamentiosos

[Ann McReynolds · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not join Goodreads to have filth masquerading as a review by me. I do want to share wonderful reading experiences, and with a lifetime of loving books will hope no more illicit invasions of my page will occur.

[Jordan Ludwig · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO AWESOME! Loved how the screenplay calls for shots of Valerie and Andy to resemble each other. Tragic.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blah blah movie notes blah blah. This is all about the SCUM manifesto. It rules.

[ebag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story and a decent screenplay. I found the long passages to be a drag at times, but adored the details.

[maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now what would y’all think if I said she made some good points

[Ethan Garstka · Rating 4 out of 5]

whole star off cuz she didnt finish the job

[Carly Trask-Kuchta · Rating 3 out of 5]

the screenplay was great. Mary harron is a master at what she does, and reading the screenplay really.made me want to see the movie. and it was so powerful to have the SCUM manifesto at the end of the screenplay. the manifesto is chilling to read after the screenplay. harron is very insightful. and knowing the backstory behind the manifesto makes it all the more interesting to read and haunting. Valerie solanas was a very troubled person. harron captured that perfectly.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going to rate the script and the manifeato seperately.
The script was such a fun and easy read. Obviously dont like the gross homophobia and transphobia, but that was Solanas I guess.