SCUM Manifesto

About “SCUM Manifesto”

The SCUM Manifesto was published in 1968 and quickly became known as an outrageous and violent text. Written by Valerie Solanas, who later shot Andy Warhol, the manifesto was self-published before her act made her famous. Despite its extreme language, the work offers a radical feminist perspective that was ahead of its time. It predicted developments such as artificial insemination and ATMs, and it addressed issues like women's under-representation in the arts. The manifesto reflects the anger of a woman who had experienced abuse and poverty. A later edition, edited by Avital Ronell, reinterprets the text within its social context. Ronell connects the manifesto to other feminist works and figures, highlighting its significance as a provocative and influential piece of writing.