Slots, Slaps, Sluts and Other Cheap Thrills: Promiscuity, Desire and Labour in one-to-one Performance

In this article we explore ethical concerns, the function of promiscuity and the fuel of desire in one-to-one performance work. Looking at examples by ORLAN, Jess Dobkin and Owen G. Parry, we work to map out tentative yet tenacious versions of our experiences of this form. Employing Levinasian ethics to consider the encounter from the perspective of an audience member, Zerihan examines erotics and ethics in relation to the economies of one-to-one performance. Kartsaki’s focus is on ‘The Promiscuous Spectator’, through which she considers the insatiability of desire in performance. Reflecting on examples of performance work, Kartsaki highlights the relationship between desire, repetition and the potential efficacy in the ongoing hunt for fulfilment. Together, the authors’ contributions reflect a short critical study, offering two distinct, yet overlapping perspectives on one-to-one performance.