Gaga in Space

By Ben Fama

On Saturday, 3 August 2013, The Atlas Review, in cooperation with the Marina Abramovic Institute, hosted a long durational performance in the screening room of Brooklyn’s upscale Wythe Hotel. Under Marina’s instruction, more than 55 performers read Stanislaw Lem’s novel Solarisin its entirety. “Special guests” included Marina Abramovic, Neil Gaiman, and Lady Gaga. 

Marina introduced the event by skyping in on a screen and relating an allegory about a shepherd walking beneath the stars. The shepherd taught Marina to close her eyes in order to listen better when talking to other people. Event staff then passed out white blindfolds and encouraged the audience to wear them for as much of the performance as they chose.

The first reader was Lady Gaga. Gaga provided a short video, which began with a flash of an image of herself, short hair falling in her eyes. The video went to black screen as she read the first page of the novel. The clip ended with a quick flash of the same image, a look I overheard someone else describe as a Mara-Rooney-Girl-with-the-Dragon-Tattoo-esque. Other standouts included Lynne Tillman, Jennifer Tamayo (who performed with a megaphone), and Monica McClure who collaborated with dancer Cori Kresge. 

Considering that Gaga appeared alongside Marina at the 20^th Annual Watermill Center Summer Benefit just last Saturday, 27 July 2013, her participation here isn’t surprising. 

Visit the Marina Abramovic Institute’s kickstarter page for additional information.

Author bio:

Ben Fama is the author of New Waves, Aquarius Rising, and the artist book Mall Witch. He is the co-editor of Wonder. His work has been featured and discussed in The Brooklyn Rail, Bomb Magazine, Action Yes, Jubilat, and on the Best American Poetry Blog. He lives in New York City.

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The World is on Fire for You and for Me

By Ben Fama

Lady Gaga,

The world is on fire for you and for me. I’m already in love with you so that’s the way it’s gonna stay. I’ve dated several Stefani’s, one I fucked hundreds of times. What’s one more?

***

Lady G,

A friend sent me a present from Guyana. It’s a huge circular pin-on button of you. There is a small button on the back that you press and the nipples light up. The battery died though and now you have all the power again.

***

Gaga…

I believe you deserve to be happy and I think I really know you. I wanted to say I’m not mad you broke into my computer—which is illegal, I know you have problems, we all do—I just need my life back and for you to be happy because I do really think you are a beautiful person and you deserve it. Maybe it is best if we didn’t speak for awhile.

***

Lady Gaga!

I just had an idea and couldn’t wait to tell you. Do you want to dress up as Juggaloes with me this Halloween. I think I’ll be in New York—my parents said I can borrow their car. Get in touch with me soon and let me know. I think you still have my personal information from my computer.

***

LG,

I want to confess something I am a little ashamed of. I was trying this week not to think of you but I saw a photo of you in a panther print bikini in a pool so last night I got in my parents pool (I wanted to feel close to you) and I rubbed a pool noodle and came inside the hole on the end. Like I said, I am not proud, I just thought maybe you would think it was funny.

***

Stefani,

I’m saying your name so you will know I am serious. I think I need space from this whole situation. Please do not try to contact me, and please stay off my computer. I use that for work and the thought you could be watching me causes me to have anxiety attacks. I still love you but I think for us the best thing to do is the hardest thing to do.

Author Bio: Ben Fama is the author of the chapbook Aquarius Rising (Ugly Duckling Presse, 2010) and co-author of the chapbook Girl Boy Girl Boy (Correspondences, 2010). He is the founder of the Brooklyn-based Supermachine Reading Series and poetry journal. His work has appeared in GlitterPony, Pank! and No, Dear Magazine, among others.

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