The Golem Rescored

The Golem as Us

Episode 3

October 28, 2021

In this episode scored by Universal Eyes, we look within, exploring with Riva Lehrer, an artist, writer and curator who focuses on representations of people who’ve been stigmatized by physical embodiment, sexuality, or gender identity. Her acclaimed memoir, Golem Girl, was published by Penguin/Random House in October 2020. We talk with Lehrer about how the Golem represents something that can connect us all and how we see ourselves in the golem along with the themes of psychology and ableism. Watch here.

From Marvel’s “The Thing” and Michael Chabon’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay to Gollum from Lord Of The Rings, the Golem character has resonated and endured for years. But why? What does the Golem tell us about ourselves? The Golem is the embodiment of the ultimate outsider. He is the personification of the “other” that all of us feel.

Music artist overview: This episode is scored by Universal Eyes, a musical “joint venture,” the culmination of Universal Indians and Wolf Eyes, two significant groups of the Michigan Progressive Underground Music scene of the early 1990s. The group features members from The Threshing Floor and consists of Nate Young, John Olson, and Gretchen Gonzales-Davidson.

Watch the full series here!

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Nate Young & John Olson (Wolf Eyes)

Michigan Homemade Audio Duck Tape'd Mystic

Nathan Young & John Olson aka Wolf Eyes is an American experimental music group from Michigan, formed in 1996 by Nate Young. Currently the group consists of John Olson and Nate Young. Wolf Eyes are a prominent act within contemporary noise music. They have collaborated with a variety of artists from different countries and art forms. The group has released 297 recordings during their 21 years of ceaseless prolific activity. Official releases have appeared on labels including but not limited to the Lower Floors, Hanson Records, Bulb Records, American Tapes, Fusetron, De Stijl Records, Sub Pop, Troubleman Unlimited, AA Records, Gods of Tundra, Freedom From. They have collaborated with Anthony Braxton, Merzbow, Sonic Youth, Black Dice, Double Leopards, John Wiese, Mammal, FLUCT, MV Carbon, Twig Harper, Jaimie Branch, Richard Pinhas, and Smegma and many more.

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Riva Lehrer

Artist, Writer, Curator.

Riva Lehrer is an artist, writer, and curator who focuses on the socially challenged body. Best known for representations of people whose physical embodiment, sexuality, or gender identity have long been stigmatized. Lehrer’s memoir, Golem Girl, (One World/ Penguin Random House) won the 2020 Barbellion Prize for Literature and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. She is represented by Regal Hoffman & Associates, and by Zolla/Lieberman Gallery.

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Gretchen Gonzales Davidson

Reboot Board Member

Gretchen Gonzales Davidson grew up in Flint, MI. She graduated from Michigan State University with a dual-degree in Anthropology and Environmental Policy. She moved to Detroit in 1998 as a musician, where she played in numerous bands. Gretchen has an event production company and serves on numerous boards including Detroit Children’s Fund, Michigan Council of Arts and Cultural Affairs, Cranbrook Academy of Art, and CultureLab Detroit. She has three boys with her husband Ethan.

 

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