Born to Be Sold: Martha Rosler Reads the Strange Case of Baby S/M or $M
Martha Rosler
Born to Be Sold: Martha Rosler Reads the Strange Case of Baby S/M or $M, 1988
Video, color, sound, 35 min Performer: Martha Rosler Produced by: Paper Tiger Television, New York
GF0002007.00.0-1999
Artwork text
A collage of TV documentation, interview, and performance, made in collaboration with the public access television collective Paper Tiger. The surrogate mother Mary Beth Whitehead does not want to carry out her contractual responsibility to yield up to the Stern family the baby she has given birth to after artificial insemination with Mr. Stern’s semen. “S” stands for Sarah, the name of the child according to the physical mother, and “M” for Melissa, the name it is given by the Sterns. Martha Rosler slips into the different roles, showing with humor and critical analysis how political class-based and ideological struggles are conducted over the woman’s body. (Sabine Breitwieser)