HEY FAGGOT!

A collaborative performance by Frank Pietronigro (artist), Mark Niclas (boyfriend), and Michael Floyd (polygraph examiner). Performed January 21, 1995, in Palo Alto, California.

Preparation:

Gail White asked that I create a work about a learned body movement that has become an unconscious part of my nervous system. The following work was my response to Gail’s directive…

The services of polygraph professional Michael Floyd (Advanced Polygraph Services, Palo Alto, California), are secured over the phone. I explain to Michael, who was a complete stranger to me at the time, that I want to play a tape of someone assaulting me by shouting out “Hey Faggot!” in a loud, threatening voice and have the resulting body movements documented on polygraph equipment. He agrees to contribute his services in the interest of art. Michael customizes my concept so that the assaults are made every twenty-five seconds, instead of rapid fire, so that the equipment has time to register my blood pressure, electrodermal and breathing responses.

Upon arrival in Palo Alto, Mark Niclas (my boyfriend at the time) and Michael Floyd privately discuss what each of them was going to say to me while I waited outside Michael’s office. Michael realized that he could garner from Mark, during this private unexpected dialogue, insight into areas of my private life which were sensitive to me. I found out later this was done so that the comments made to me come as a surprise and have more meaning in relationship to my memories. A tape recorder is placed in the room while Michael gets ready to convert my biological responses and electromagnetic energy to digital information using his computer.

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