Vienna Actionists: The Collected Works (1970) review

Formidable collection of the 'aktions' performed by the Austrian collective between 1964 and 1970 - they take the idea of what sex, art and degradation can be to its most destructive end. The life of Rudolf Schwarzkogler was cut short by his suicide - the rumor that he castrated himself and bled to death is in line with the theme of the group's work but was later proven to be incorrect - and the extremity of their performances beg for people to dismiss them as being mentally ill (although the surviving members of the group are anything but), so only the most daring viewers and art fans might want to take a peek. In some ways, its depiction of acts too horrific to describe exists as a gauge for how far human sexuality can go: until we've reached the very end-point they're showing us, we're safe. And yet ... have you truly been around the Internet? [Rating Not Applicable]