Blood and Guts in High School (2009)

Blood and Guts in High School features actress Stephanie Vella in a series of video installations that reimagine punkfeminist icon Kathy Ackers book of the same title The book received noteriety from 19781982 during the rise of Reagan republicanism and the emergence of punk rock In Parnes interpretation each videochapter presents a typical scene in the life of Janie bracketed by US news events from the time period in which the book was written These events saturate the characters daily experience informing her adolescent nihilistic worldview and her desire for rebellion As the viewer looks back at pivotal historical events Jonestown Massacre Moral Majority Three Mile Island etc connections are drawn in relation to our current political situation