Anna Banana – About VILE: a book / VILE n.8 (1983)

About VILE is a monograph containing the history of the VILE magazine, a summary of Anna Banana’s events in San Francisco, and the 1978 Futurist Sound European performance art tour with Bill Gaglione. This publication is often interpreted as the issue no. 8 of the VILE magazine.

Visually, the periodical is a parody of General Idea’s influential FILE megazine, which itself parodied the format of Life magazine. The first magazine began at Speedprint, a small instant print shop in San Francisco where it became apparent to Banana “that anyone could be a publisher.” The first issue featured an image of the bare-chested Monty Cazazza tearing out his own heart.

The contents featured examples of international mail art, texts & manifestoes, letters, performance documentation, articles on individual artists & their projects, and faux-advertisements. Each issue featured an introduction by Banana. VILE continued for nine years, until 1983, producing seven issues.

Banana Productions, 1983. 280 x 215 mm. Softcover, 106 pages.

First edition. Condition: Very good.