I Shot Andy Warhol: Screenplay Book

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.