ARIADNE:
 

LESLIE LABOWITZ + SUZANNE LACY

IN MOURNING
AND IN RAGE

City Hall, Los Angeles, CA., December 1977

 
victims_front_page.jpg

FACT + FICTION = ENTERTAINMENT

The Hillside Strangler case galvanized an entire city, gluing citizens each night to their TV sets. It sold newspaper, locks, guns, and dogs; it became the subject matter of jokes and nightmares. In telling this story, the news media perpetuated the same images and attitudes that created the social climate for the crime itself. 

 

MEDIA ANALYSIS

The intimidation and terrorizing of the female population can be analyzed along the same lines as entertainment and pornographic media. Portrayal of the murdered  women was prohibited in local press. Photos of officers bending over the concealed body served the same purpose in a voyeuristic way. The verbal description, "nude, spread-eagled body of a woman was found strangled today on the side of a hill" was repeated constantly. International press like Paris Match revealed the woman's body in its sensationalized spread called "The Monster of Hollywood" which also featured a photo of our performance. 

 
Untitled-1.png

Performance

Los Angeles City Hall Steps
December 1977

 
 

“I am here for the 10 women raped and murdered in Los Angeles.” The chorus responded after every woman who came forward: “In Memory of Our Sisters, We Fight Back!”

 
 

PRESS CONFERENCE

 
 

1city_h005.jpg