Jex Blackmore | |
---|---|
Born | 1986 (age 37–38) Southfield, Michigan, U.S. |
Alma mater | University of Michigan |
Occupation(s) | Pro-choice activist, performance artist |
Organization | The Satanic Temple (2014–2018) |
Website | www |
Jex Blackmore (born 1986) is an American pro-choice activist, performance artist, and Satanist. Blackmore was affiliated with the Satanic Temple, a non-theistic organization, between 2014 and 2018, and led its Detroit chapter. Blackmore publicized their [lower-alpha 1] three abortions through a detailed blogging project, a film performance, and by taking a medical abortion pill during an interview on local TV.
Jex Blackmore was born on July 21, 1986 in Southfield, Michigan, United States and is based in Detroit. Their father owned a funeral home and they read books about embalming and disease, which influenced their approach to the human body. [2] Blackmore's mother was a theater director. Blackmore graduated from the University of Michigan, having studied art history. [3] [4]
Blackmore was a member of the Satanic Temple (TST) and, in August 2014, founded an active chapter in Detroit. [5] Blackmore led the Detroit chapter, which set up a Satanic display on the grounds of the Michigan State Capitol in December 2014, alongside a conventional Christian nativity scene. Their "Snaketivity" display included an inverted pentagram and cross bearing the phrase "The Greatest Gift is Knowledge", alluding to the fall of man and the Genesis creation narrative of the snake and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. [6] [7] In 2015, Blackmore organized the first public unveiling of the TST's statue of Baphomet, [8] [9] the "largest public satanic ceremony in history." [5]
In August 2015, Blackmore and other TST activists responded to that year's anti-abortion National Day of Protest with a piece of political theatre: Two women knelt down, with their writsts tied, before an American flag with a depiction of Baphomet superimposed. Other TST members in clerical robes poured milk on the kneeling women, who "started gasping and sputtering as the cascade continued." In the Detroit version, Blackmore held up a sign, "America is not a theocracy. End forced motherhood." [10]
As a TST spokesperson, Blackmore gave voice to a feminist approach to Satanism. Without explicitly naming the Church of Satan, they criticized Satanism as sexist, saying that "modern Satanism has been primarily associated with strength, masculinity and power. Reinforcing chauvinistic conceptions of the abilities of women, with a particular focus on male sexuality, modern Satanism has continued to emphasize traditional gender roles." [11] Blackmore also spoke to the media, on behalf of TST, about its abortion rights lawsuit for a woman in Missouri. [12] During this period, Blackmore designed actions that were not endorsed by the national TST. For example, they protested Texas abortion restrictions with a campaign to send semen in socks to the Governor. [13] Scholars Kristin Marie Bivens and Kirsti Cole analyzed their effort as a grotesque protest, defined as using "the body's fluids to push back against attempts to legislate bodies." [14]
In March 2018, Blackmore left TST after being removed by TST's National Council. The pivotal moment was their "Subversive Autonomous" performance, [15] during which Blackmore made statements deemed incompatible with the group's non-violence policy, as shown in the documentary Hail Satan? [16] [17] Blackmore had stated, "We are going to storm press conferences, kidnap an executive, release snakes in the governor's mansion, execute the president." [18] [11] [19] In a 2020 interview, they criticized TST as corrupt and stated, "The organization badly yearns to be deemed legitimate in the eyes of those in power but they will never achieve this aim, even if their litigious activities are successful. Our work, whatever it is, must come from a place of authenticity." [20] That same year, Blackmore debated five members of the Westboro Baptist Church at a Central Michigan University class on media law. The student audience reportedly preferred Blackmore's Satanism to the Westboro Baptists' views. [21]
In 2015, Blackmore wrote a series of detailed blog posts leading up to their abortion on November 26, Thanksgiving. [22] Blackmore called it the Unmother Project and used it as an opportunity to oppose restrictions to abortion in Michigan, their home state. [23] At the time, Blackmore was uninsured and they began their project only 12 days before the abortion. [24]
Blackmore led the Detroit TST chapter on abortion rights counter-protests, including The Future of Baby is Now with "'fetish babies' – adults in baby masks, diapers, and BDSM gear." [25] Before their second abortion, Blackmore livestreamed a performance, One hundred pounds of rotten fruit while awaiting her second abortion, in which they were pelted with one hundred pounds of rotten fruit. [26] In a performance art journal, Emergency Index, Blackmore wrote,
As overripe pulp exploded painfully against my skin, I was reminded that my womb shared a resemblance of fruit deemed unnatural and spoiled. Each blow echoed the weight of violence championed by political powers that tell us our lives and dignity matter less than that of a fetus... The bruises that camouflaged my body from this performance remained visible until the day following my abortion, which left none. [27]
Originally titled The Dignity of Every Human Life, the performance responded to the January 18, 2019, March for Life, whose livestream was projected onto Blackstone during their performance. [27] In January 2022, Blackmore took abortion medication on live television, Fox affiliate WJBK in Detroit. Blackmore was in the process of explaining to the host, Charlie Langton, their view of the Food and Drug Administration's position on mailing medical abortion pills, mifepristone. Langton was surprised and an anti-abortion guest was visibly upset. [28] The show was held on the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade . [26] In an email to The Washington Post , Blackmore confirmed that this was their third medical abortion and their goal to overcome the "myths, misinformation, and stigma" over abortion pills. [28]
In January 2022, Blackmore led a guerrila information campaign in Detroit to tell women about the availability of medical abortion pills. The campaign centered around a poster designed by Blackmore and information on mail order pills, as an alternative to abortion clinics. [29] While the campaign evoked some positive responses, Blackmore also stated that they were called a murderer and received death threats. [30]
In February 2016, with the release of the film The Witch , Blackmore developed three interactive ritual performances in Austin, Hollywood, and New York City, titled the Sabbat cycle. The cycle refers to three phases of Satanism: Awaken, Rebel, and Convoke. [31] [32] During the Sabbat performance in Austin, Blackmore preached a "satanic jeremiad" (in the words of scholar Joseph P. Laycock) that warned of a Christian theocracy in America. [32]
That same year, as a counter-demonstration to a Catholic-led anti-abortion protest in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Blackmore wore a crown of thorns and carried a large cross on her shoulder. The performance was titled, "Sanctions of the Cross" (contrasting the Stations of the Cross). [33] [34]
In 2019, Blackmore founded the Sex Militant collective and served as their spokesperson. Their two-day premiere, in Chicago, "constructed an immersive space out of durational performances, participatory rituals, sound, and protest art." [35] The collective created events for sex workers, such as a gun training and a striptease fundraiser for a strippers' union. [36] In September 2019, a Sex Militant exhibition aimed to give its Chicago audience a sense of the erotic in state-sponsored violence, using such elements as a spoken word performance, American flags, and "a glowing cross being pulled by performers in fetish play." It drew opposition from a nearby Catholic church. [37]
Blackmore created another abortion rights artwork in 2020, in partnership with Ann Lewis, made of "wood, paint, one thousand metal hangers sent to artists by donation." [26] [38] The piece was titled C.R.I.S.I.S. (Constricting reproductive rights is state imposed suffering). [26]
In March 2021, the Ann Arbor Film Festival showed their film, An Undue Burden, described as "an endurance work that follows the experience of a pregnant woman as she awaits her abortion procedure in a hotel room over the course of twenty-four hours." [39] [40]
In interviews from 2014 through 2022, Blackmore mentioned their affinity for Black Sabbath, their cat named for a goat in The Witch , [41] and their shift away from Christianity as a teenager. [42] They also enjoy motorcycles. [43] [44] They had a blog about radical politics activists, Raw Pussy, before joining the Satanic Temple. [25] Blackmore also expressed concern about threats of violence against their performances. [25] [45]
Satanism refers to a group of religious, ideological, and/or philosophical beliefs based on Satan – particularly his worship or veneration. Satan is commonly associated with the Devil in Christianity, a fallen angel often regarded as chief of the demons who tempt humans into sin. The phenomenon of Satanism shares "historical connections and family resemblances" with the Left Hand Path milieu of other occult figures such as Chaos, Hecate, Lilith, Lucifer, and Set. For centuries, the term was used by various Christian groups as an accusation against ideological opponents, a slur for assorted heretics, freethinkers, and pagans. By contrast, self-identified Satanism is a relatively modern phenomenon, largely attributed to the 1966 founding of the Church of Satan by Anton LaVey in the United States – an atheistic group that does not believe in a supernatural Satan.
The Church of Satan (CoS) is a religious organization dedicated to the religion of Satanism as defined by Anton Szandor LaVey. Founded in San Francisco in 1966, by LaVey, it is considered the "oldest satanic religion in continual existence", and more importantly the most influential, inspiring "numerous imitator and breakaway groups". According to the Church, Satanism has been "codified" as "a religion and philosophy" by LaVey and his church. Founded in an era when there was much public interest in the occult, witchcraft and Satanism, the church enjoyed a heyday for several years after its founding. Celebrities attended LaVey's satanic parties and he was invited on talk shows. His Satanic Bible sold nearly a million copies.
Anton Szandor LaVey was an American author, musician, and LaVeyan Satanist. He was the founder of the Church of Satan, the philosophy of LaVeyan Satanism, and the concept of Satanism. He authored several books, including The Satanic Bible, The Satanic Rituals, The Satanic Witch, The Devil's Notebook, and Satan Speaks! In addition, he released three albums, including The Satanic Mass, Satan Takes a Holiday, and Strange Music. He played a minor on-screen role and served as technical advisor for the 1975 film The Devil's Rain and served as host and narrator for Nick Bougas' 1989 mondo film Death Scenes.
The Satanic Bible is a collection of essays, observations, and rituals published by Anton LaVey in 1969. It is the central religious text of LaVeyan Satanism, and is considered the foundation of its philosophy and dogma. It has been described as the most important document to influence contemporary Satanism. Though The Satanic Bible is not considered to be sacred scripture in the way that the Christian Bible is to Christianity, LaVeyan Satanists regard it as an authoritative text as it is a contemporary text that has attained for them scriptural status. It extols the virtues of exploring one's nature and instincts. Believers have been described as "atheistic Satanists" because they believe that God and Satan are not external entities, but rather projections of an individual's personality—benevolent and stabilizing forces in their life. There have been thirty printings of The Satanic Bible, selling over a million copies.
LaVeyan Satanism is the name given to the form of Satanism promoted by American occultist and author Anton LaVey (1930–1997). LaVey founded the Church of Satan (CoS) in 1966 in San Francisco. Although LaVey is thought to have had more impact with his Satanic aesthetics of "colourful" rituals and "scandalous" clothes that created a "gigantic media circus", he also promoted his ideas in writings, such as the popular Satanic Bible. LaVeyan Satanism has been classified as a new religious movement and a form of Western esotericism by scholars of religion. LaVey's ideas have been said to weave together an array of sometimes "contradictory" "thinkers and tropes", combining "humanism, hedonism, aspects of pop psychology and the human potential movement", along with "a lot of showmanship", His ideas were heavily influenced by the ideas and writings of Friedrich Nietzsche, Ayn Rand and Arthur Desmond.
Theistic Satanism, otherwise referred to as traditional Satanism, religious Satanism, or spiritual Satanism, is an umbrella term for religious groups that consider Satan, the Devil, to objectively exist as a deity, supernatural entity, or spiritual being worthy of worship or reverence, whom individuals may believe in, contact, and convene with, in contrast to the atheistic archetype, metaphor, or symbol found in LaVeyan Satanism.
The Order of Nine Angles is a militant Satanic left-hand path occultist and terrorist network that originated in the United Kingdom but has since branched out into other parts of the world. Claiming to have been established in the 1960s, it rose to public recognition in the early 1980s, attracting attention for its neo-Nazi ideology and activism. Describing its approach as "Traditional Satanism", it has also exhibits Hermetic and modern Pagan elements in its beliefs.
Greater and lesser magic, within LaVeyan Satanism, designate types of beliefs with the term greater magic applying to ritual practice meant as psychodramatic catharsis to focus ones emotions for a specific purpose and lesser magic applied to the practice of manipulation by means of applied psychology and glamour to bend an individual or situation to one's will.
Zeena Galatea Schreck, known professionally by her mononymous artist name ZEENA, is a Berlin-based American visual and musical artist, author and the spiritual leader of the Sethian Liberation Movement (SLM), which she founded in 2002.
The Satanic panic is a moral panic about alleged widespread Satanic ritual abuse which originated around the 1980s in the United States, peaking in the early 1990s, before waning as a result of scepticism of academics and law enforcement agencies who ultimately debunked the claims. The phenomenon spread from the United States to other countries, including South Africa, where it is still evident periodically. South Africa was particularly associated with the Satanic panic because of the creation of the Occult Related Crimes Unit in 1992, described as the "world's only 'ritual murder' task force". According to anthropologist Annika Teppo, this was linked with powerful conservative Christian forces within the then-dominant white community in the last years of apartheid. Christian belief is a prerequisite to serve in the unit. The concern with the alleged presence of Satanism and occult practices has continued into the post-apartheid era.
Within the Church of Satan, a Grotto is a clandestine association or gathering of Satanists within geographical proximity for means of social, ritual, and special interest activities. The Black House, the founding place and headquarters of the Church of Satan from 1966 to 1997, was effectively the first grotto, and was for a time referred to as the "Central Grotto". Grottos existed for a time in various parts of the United States; these included the Babylon Grotto in Detroit, the Stygian Grotto in Dayton, and the Lilith Grotto in New York. In 1975, LaVey disbanded all grottos, then reinstated them in the 1980s. The Church of Satan no longer formally recognizes or charters grottos.
Christine Weick is an American Christian activist and author who gained national exposure during the 2010s. She has protested against Muslims inside Muslim places of worship, against homosexuality, and holiday traditions like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. She asserted in a now-viral video that the logo of Monster Energy sports drink depicts the number of the beast.
The Satanic Temple (TST) is a non-theistic organization and new religious movement, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Salem, Massachusetts. Established in reaction to the "intrusion of Christian values on American politics", congregations have also formed in Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Co-founded by Lucien Greaves, the organization's spokesperson, and Malcolm Jarry, the group views Satan neither as a supernatural being, nor a symbol of evil, but instead relies on the literary Satan as a symbol representing "the eternal rebel" against arbitrary authority and social norms, or as a metaphor to promote pragmatic skepticism, rational reciprocity, personal autonomy, and curiosity.
Douglas Mesner, better known as Lucien Greaves, is a social activist and the co-founder of, and spokesperson for, The Satanic Temple.
After School Satan is an after school program project of The Satanic Temple (TST), a non-theistic United States organization based in Salem, Massachusetts, and is sponsored by Reason Alliance LTD, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It was created as an alternative to Christian-based after-school groups, specifically at schools that host the Evangelical Good News Club. TST only starts a club when it is requested by a parent at a school where the Good News Club or similar organization is already operating.
Baphomet is a monumental bronze statue commissioned by the Satanic Temple, crowdfunded in 2014 and unveiled in 2015. The statue has figured in public challenges against the display of the Ten Commandments at two state capitols.
Hail Satan? is a 2019 American documentary film about the origins of The Satanic Temple, including the group's grassroots political activism. Directed by Penny Lane, the film premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, and was released in the United States on April 19, distributed by Magnolia Pictures. The film follows Satanists working to preserve the separation of church and state against the privileges of the Christian right.
Twin Temple is an American Rock duo.
SatanCon is the annual convention of the Satanic Temple, a non-theistic religious organization which uses Satanic imagery to advocate for egalitarianism, social justice, and the separation of church and state. The conventions combine traditional conference-style educational panels with social events, arts, and a marketplace.
Shiva Honey is a prominent figure within the modern Satanic movement, known for her roles as an artist, musician, organizer, and author. Her work primarily revolves around The Satanic Temple (TST), where Shiva has significantly contributed to its development and public rituals.
...satisfying to be fired for being too extreme.