Peter Sotos
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Peter Sotos
Born
Peter Gus Sotos
April 17, 1960 (age 56)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Occupation
Writer, musician
Peter Sotos (born April 17, 1960) is an American writer and musician. In his boo
ks, Sotos examines sadistic sexual criminals and sexually violent pornography, p
articularly involving children. His writings are interpreted by some as commenti
ng on media hypocrisy around these issues. His books are often first person narr
atives, taking on the point of view of the sexual predator in order to explore s
adistic and pedophilic sexual impulses.
Contents [hide]
1
Early life
2
Pure magazine and after
3
Books
4
Musical career
4.1
Discography
5
Anecdote
6
Works
7
Texts featuring Peter Sotos
8
References
9
External links
Early life[edit]
Sotos is a graduate of Holy Cross High School. He attended Northern Illinois Uni
versity for one year and studied art at the Art Institute of Chicago for four ye
ars.
Pure magazine and after[edit]
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In 1984, while the day care sex abuse hysteria phenomenon was sweeping the natio
n and while attending the Art Institute of Chicago, Sotos began producing the co
ntroversial magazine Pure, notable as the first zine dedicated to serial killer
lore. The original publications are now collectors' items.
In addition to offering many details about the crimes of serial killers and Nazi
s, the text in the magazine praises them, describing them using such terms as "g
enius", "glorious", "exemplary", and "illustrious". The text is juxtaposed with
pictures and newspaper clippings relevant to the crimes discussed, showing that
the media also abuse the victims. A short manifesto introducing the first issue
says the magazine "satiates and encourages true lusts."
A photocopy from a magazine of child pornography was used as the cover of issue
#2 of Pure which led to Sotos pleading guilty to possession of child pornography
, receiving a suspended sentence. A copy of the magazine was found by Scotland Y
ard in Edinburgh, in the home of a suspect in a series of child abductions, murd
ers and grave robbings, which led to Sotos' arrest.[1]
Despite his early legal troubles, Sotos continues to garner support for his idea
s and literary output: in 1999 the French publisher Jean-Jacques Pauvert compare
d him to Marquis de Sade;[2] the American author Bruce Benderson has been analyz
ing his writings for La Nouvelle Revue Franaise (April 2006);[3] in 2012 Sotos jo
ined Dennis Cooper for a lecture at the Centre Georges Pompidou;[4] in 2015 the
German contemporary art magazine Texte zur Kunst published Proxy: Peter Sotos in
conversation.[5]
Books[edit]
Compendium of newspaper extracts reporting on subjects such as the painting Myra
by Marcus Harvey, Lazy (1999) is giving thought to public fascination with sex
crimes.
Selfish Little (2004) dips into tabloids and memoirs the murder of Lesley Ann Do
wney by British Moors Murderers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley in 1964 has sparked.
Predicate (2005) explores the Dunblane Massacre in Scotland in 1996 and the moti
ves and life of the perpetrator Thomas Watt Hamilton. Other topics covered inclu
de Operation Ore, the Wonderland murders, Russian orphanages, Megan's Law, and n
on-nude teen websites.
Comfort and Critique (2005) explores the hidden motives of reporters and citizen
s as shown by their reactions to sexual crimes.
In Show Adult (2007), Sotos analyzes the TV shows Supernanny and To Catch a Pred
ator as publicly acceptable forms of pornography.
Pure Filth (2012) dives into transcripts the gonzo movies porn star Jamie Gillis
produced during the 90s. Gillis adds an introduction to each transcript. Sotos,
who was a friend of Gillis, brings his own perspective to these records.[6] The
book was completed a few days before Gillis died in February 2010.
Desistance (2014) is focused on the works of French photographer Antoine D'Agata
.[7][8]
Musical career[edit]
From 1983 to Bird Seed (album) released in 2003, Sotos was a member of the Briti
sh power electronics group Whitehouse.
In 1992, Sotos released the solo album Buyer's Market, which consisted of sound
collages of spoken word samples from parents, law-enforcement officers and victi
ms of sex crimes.[9] The album was produced by Steve Albini.[10]
Jamie Stewart from Xiu Xiu often mentions Sotos as an influence.[11][12][13][14]
[15]
Discography[edit]
Year
Album name
Album details
1992
Buyer's Market
Label: AWB Recording
Format: CD
2005
Proxy
Label: AWB Recording
Format: CD
2005
Waitress
Label: Creation Books
Format: CD
Anecdote[edit]
In his movie Love (2015), the Argentine film director Gaspar No shows Lazy, one o
f Sotos' books in the hero's bookshelves.[16] The American writer is also thanke
d in the closing credits.[17]
Works[edit]
Pure, 1984-1985, Self-published and released two issues, with a third having bee
n completed before controversy of publication led to a now-infamous trial.
Parasite, 1993-1995, Self-published twenty issues.
Total Abuse: Collected Writings, 1984-1995: Pure, Tool, Parasite, 1995 (Goad to
Hell, ISBN 1-111-17832-1)
Index, 1996, Printed in 1998 (Creation Books, ISBN 978-1840680225)
Special, 1998 (Rude Shape, ISBN 978-1890528010)
Lazy, 1999 (Creation Books, ISBN 978-1840680102)
Tick, 2000 (Creation Books, ISBN 978-1840680485)
Selfish, Little: The Annotated Lesley Ann Downey, 2004 (Void Books, ISBN 978-097
7799510)
Proxy: Peter Sotos Pornography 1991-2000, 2005 (Creation Books, ISBN 978-1840680
805). A compendium of five of Sotos' works (Tool, Special, Tick, Index and Lazy)
. First edition, with CD by Sotos and Steve Albini.
Comfort and Critique, 2005 (Void Books, ISBN 978-1616583484)
Predicate, 2005 (Creation Books, ISBN 978-1840681369)
Waitress, 2005 (Creation Books). Came as an extra for those who preordered a cop
y of Predicate from Creation Books.
Show Adult, 2007 (Creation Books, ISBN 978-1840681499)
Waitress, 2007 (Creation Books). Separate volume from the one included with Pred
icate. Came with orders of Show Adult in hardcover.
Lordotics, 2008 (Creation Books, ISBN 978-1840681529)
Perfect: The Collected Peter Sotos Volume One, 2009 (Creation Books, ISBN 978-18
40681550)
Waitress, 2009 (Creation Books). Third in a series of additional material offere
d in limited editions from Creation. Came with pre orders of Perfect.
Public: The Collected Peter Sotos Volume Two, 2009 (Creation Books, ISBN 978-184
0681574)
Waitress, 2009 (Creation Books) Fourth in a series of additional material offere
d in limited editions from Creation. Came with pre orders of Public.
Private: The Collected Peter Sotos Volume Three, 2009 (Creation Books, ISBN 9781840681581)
Waitress, 2009 (Creation Books). Fifth in a series of additional material offere
d in limited editions from Creation. Came with pre orders of Private.
Kept: The Collected Peter Sotos Volume Four, 2010 (Creation Books, ISBN 978-1840
681642)
Waitress, 2010 (Creation Books). Sixth in a series of additional material offere
d in limited editions from Creation. Came with pre orders of Kept.
Mine, 2011 (Creation Books, reprinted in paperback by Nine-Banded Books in 2013,
ISBN 978-0578112336)
Pure Filth, 2012 (Feral House, ISBN 978-1936239313) with Jamie Gillis
Tool, 2013 (Nine-Banded Books, ISBN 978-1616583491). First printing as a stand-a
lone volume.
Home, 2013 (Kiddiepunk) with images by Michael Salerno
Desistance, 2014 (Nine-Banded Books, ISBN 978-0989697279)
Texts featuring Peter Sotos[edit]
Apocalypse Culture, edited by Adam Parfrey, interview with Peter Sotos (Amok Pre
ss, 1987, ISBN 978-0941693028)
Apocalypse Culture II, edited by Adam Parfrey, chapter by Peter Sotos (Feral Hou
se, 2000, ISBN 978-0922915576)
The Gates of Janus by Ian Brady, afterword by Peter Sotos (Feral House, 2001, IS
BN 978-0922915736)
Straight to Hell: 20th Century Suicides, edited by Namida King, contributed to b
y Peter Sotos (Creation Books, 2003, ISBN 978-1840680904)
.45 Dangerous Minds edited by Steven Blush and George Petros, interview with Pet
er Sotos (Creation Books, 2005, ISBN 978-1840681246)
Pornocracy by Catherine Breillat, afterword by Peter Sotos (Semiotext(e), 2008,
ISBN 978-1584350477)
The Gates of Janus: Expanded Edition by Ian Brady, new afterword by Peter Sotos:
Bait (Feral House, 2015, ISBN 978-1627310109)
References[edit]
Jump up ^ Linnet Myers and Dave Schneidman (December 6, 1985). "$100,000 Bond In
Child Pornography Case". Chicago Tribune.
Jump up ^ "Prvenons tout de suite le lecteur sensible, et mme le lecteur courant :
Index, traduit pour la premire fois de l'amricain en 1999, est un rassemblement d
e textes souvent atroces, parfois insupportables. Seulement tout ici est vrai. C
oupures de journaux, rapports mdicaux, sont exactement cits. La ralit est l, saignant
e et crue, trie avec une prdilection certaine pour les faits hautement transgressi
fs relevs au cours de plonges dans les bas-fonds de la socit amricaine. Les commentai
res de l'auteur rvlent, eux, en mme temps qu'une rvolte instinctive, une fascination
vidente pour la violence sexuelle quotidienne et ses sources obscures. Le lecteu
r averti ressortira durablement troubl de cette exploration sans fard. Pour les a
utres, n'hsitons pas leur conseiller de dtourner pudiquement leur regard. Sade dj di
sait : Je ne suis pas consolant, moi, je suis vrai. " Jean-Jacques Pauvert, Preface
to the French translation of Index, La Musardine, 1999.
Jump up ^ "NRF #577 (April 2006)".
Jump up ^ "Centre Pompidou: L'vnement Peter Sotos Mine, Kept". February 26, 2012.
Jump up ^ "Texte zur Kunst #98: Media".
Jump up ^ "Peter Sotos Reading @ St. Mark's Bookshop". May 2012.
Jump up ^ "Nine-Banded Books: Desistance".
Jump up ^ "RTBF: Carte blanche Antoine D'Agata Paris La vie mme". November 21, 20
14.
Jump up ^ "Peter Sotos Buyer's Market". Heathen Harvest. March 17, 2012.
Jump up ^ "I'm Steve Albini, ask me anything". May 8, 2012.
Jump up ^ "Pitchfork/Xiu Xiu". April 9, 2006.
Jump up ^ "Stereogum: Xiu Xiu & Michael Gira Cover Queen & Bowie". February 29,
2008.
Jump up ^ "San Francisco Bay Guardian: Blood, chocolate, and moral decadence in
the weirdness of Xiu Xiu". March 16, 2010.
Jump up ^ "Butt Magazine-Xiu Xiu-Interview". August 21, 2011.
Jump up ^ "Xiu Xiu Under The Radar". January 28, 2015.
Jump up ^ "Love-Gaspar No-Clip 2: Omi is pregnant". August 2015.
Jump up ^ "L'Arche de No". Dedicate Digital. Winter 2007.
External links[edit]
Nine-Banded Books
Feral House
Laurence Viallet
Peter Sotos: A Case Study in Lust and the Unconditioned by Michael Lujan
Fucked in the Head by Travis Jeppesen
France Inter (Le Masque et la Plume: March 13, 2005)
Peter Sotos : Aucun autre crime que l'amour du crime by Christophe Bourseiller
Instinct, Drive, and Reality: An interview with Peter Sotos (The Hoover Hog)
Peter Sotos Day by Dennis Cooper
Interview with Peter Sotos by Brandon Stosuy (Fanzine)
Tesco Fest 2011, Brooklyn NY
The Putrid Voyeurisms of Peter Sotos by Blake Butler (Vice)
Peter Sotos Reading at the Pompidou Art Center in Paris, 2012
Peter Sotos Reading at St. Mark's Bookshop, NYC ("Pure Filth", 2012)
Basilica Soundscape 2013, Hudson NY (Pitchfork)
Authority control
WorldCat Identities VIAF: 74011960 ISNI: 0000 0000 7926 9571 SUDOC: 050429825 BN
F: cb135294213 (data)
[hide] v t e
Whitehouse
Philip Best Peter Sotos Kevin Tomkins Glenn Michael Wallis John Murphy William B
ennett Peter McKay Paul Reuter
Studio albums
Birthdeath Experience (1980) Total Sex (1980) Erector (1981) Dedicated to Peter
Krten (1981) Buchenwald (1981) New Britain (1982) Psychopathia Sexualis (1982) Ri
ght to Kill (1983) Great White Death (1985) Thank Your Lucky Stars (1990) Twice
Is Not Enough (1991) Never Forget Death (1992) Halogen (1994) Quality Time (1995
) Mummy and Daddy (1998) Cruise (2001) Bird Seed (2003) Asceticists 2006 (2006)
Racket (2007)
Related
Konstruktivits Sutcliffe Jgend Come Cut Hands
Categories: 1960 birthsLiving peopleAmerican people of Greek descentAmerican cri
me writersAmerican people convicted of child pornography offensesMusicians from
ChicagoWriters from ChicagoSchool of the Art Institute of Chicago alumniAmerican
writers of Greek descentObscenity controversies in literatureAmerican industria
l musiciansNoise musiciansSound artistsNorthern Illinois University alumni
