Jane Austen’s novels have always been of interest to feminist and queer studies; the same goes for her private life. Works dealing with the topic best demonstrate the range of existing perspectives (the essay Jane Austen and the Masturbating Girl, the novel Gay Pride and Prejudice etc.). Their sheer number proves Austen asked questions in the 19th century which are still relevant today. This project, deriving from Kenneth Goldsmith’s Uncreative Writing project, attempts to establish a new perspective on Austen’s works. By literally appropriating her text and transcribing it live every day during the event in the gallery space, the author will perform a small yet important subversive intervention – a sex change of all characters. The meaning of gender in Austen’s works is evident in the first sentence, which is also the beginning of the performance: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife”. A new version of the cult novel will emerge in front of the eyes of the audience which will also be able to participate in the event. A projection of the work will be available for reading, with the pages printing out as soon as they are written. The title of the performance alludes to a connection with the LGBTQ world; although the work does not abandon the binary sex scheme, it nonetheless offers a perspective which transcends heteronormativity. In a sense, the work is a continuation of the author’s performance Krležijana from 2008, which took place at the ALUdiranje exhibition at the Queer Festival in Zagreb.

Jasna Jasna Žmak (Pula, 1984) lives and works in Zagreb, as an independent dramaturge, a screenwriter and an author. She graduated at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb, where she works as an art assistant. She has written two texts for performances (Samice, 2011 and Drugi Sočano, 2012) and two scripts for short movies (Na kvadrat, 2012 and Munja, 2015). She has just released her first short novel Moja ti.

In English language.

Co-organization: Club SOT-24,5

Voluntary contributions are more than welcome – and bloody well needed!

Map of ACC Metelkova mesto