The Zizi Show, "seeing how popular nonsense can be, how far bullshit can go."
Hello Zizi, I’m Jackie. I work at The Lab. We’re excited to have The Zizi Show and company here on Thursday, November 10. First question: you talk about fear and fear mongering, but fear is a pretty basic human instinct. So, how much is too much? On a related note, what do you think about the upcoming election?
Zizi: Oh Jackie, would you have a cigarette? Of course, The Lab. Is that the opera theater by the breathtaking urban lake of human condition? It is such an honor to perform at your establishment. I hope I have the time – I may have to tend to my hormonal headache on that evening. At any rate, you ask about fear Jackie. Oh, indeed, indeed. Too much, too little, who is to say? I will say. Fear is a basic instinct that allows us to survive, it is necessary to live – absolutamente. We all know that, mais, bien sur. I studied it in biology class when I was ten, or was it in political theory with sexy Almaz? At any rate most of us do not even encounter reasons for survival fear activation, with everything so boxed and in such formidable order. [Suffocation]. What is often referred to as fear nowadays are really phobias. A mix of dread and hate. Who is afraid of being caught in the line of fire of a tiger? Oooohhhh Jackie, did you see that video on whatever [media]that shows the two tourists being eaten up by a tiger in some zoo? Ha ha ha!!! Not funny. At all. Pas du tout! But really, when asked, the terror keeping folks awake all night boils down to irrational, fabricated, exaggerated fears. We have become too afraid to live, my dear. I say, beyond fear of boredom and, oh – do avoid crossing the streets while cars are present in some places – all other fear is too much.
Really, you have to be able to trace the reason for the fear, name it, and consider the real possibilities and their effect on your wellbeing.
I will give you an example of the irrationality that drives me mad: women live in fear almost always, everywhere, muscle tensing, character shaping, lifelong fear because they are women and are subject to a spectrum of violence by the other group – I forget its name. However, I do not see this fear considered seriously – even basically addressed – or resolved. But the suggestion that a certain group of people (often poorer, often darker) may present a danger, with no precedence or number to support the suggestion, and suddenly panic takes control. Walls. Armies. Bombs. Long, terribly boring security lines. Surveillance systems. REALLEEEE!?
The sheer terror of going on a three hour urban picnic without a snack, now that is legitimate.
To surrender one’s whole life to a job that is counter-natural, which causes stress and anxiety and a sense of “just another brick in the wall” to “secure” a pension – because there is nothing scarier than a senior life without a pension – this is the picture of horror. The work-stress will kill them before they cash that damn pension. I just read it is a bigger killer than smoking, Jackie, did you know that? Who cares where I read it. That is bloody too much. I am angry Jackie. This is too much. Heartbreaking.
I will give you another example Jackie, horror films. I never really watched them. How to Give Birth (the first one), that was the only horror film I ever watched. But I get it, there is something beautiful in indulging one’s instincts every once in a while. A moment in the wild, in the safety of a living room or a theater (of course there are living rooms and theaters that are more dangerous than US foreign policy), surrendering to the simple emotions, armed with choice, sitting to the physical and mental experience in front of horror, experiencing the parasympathetic system in action (gently) – I can see the fun. Holding one’s breath, gasping, screaming even are all allowed, holding the next person's limbs or/and easily located protrusions, silly words, being a fool, all part of the fun, eating popcorn way too much way too fast way too buttery (maybe even caramalised) all kosher. I get the pleasure in all of that. Sort of like when someone goes for the thrill of a dark room action, a BDSM circle, and /or a bungee jump situation. That can be cool. Especially the BDSM tickling fears, I am happy to answer any more Q&A in this regard Jackie, but better use my secret email.
But the paralysis that comes with imagining mayhem and chaos and anarchy and violence and fire and looting and the loss of shopping-opportunities if a refugee makes it to shore rather than die die die you asshole brown refugee freak – major problem.
ELECTIONS?? WHAT FUCKING ELECTIONS??
The Lab: Where did you develop your practice of “casting spells?”
Zizi: You ask me a question, seemingly so simple, short, quick and via the electronicalistic ways, yet really really, yes, what? No spell-caster shares her ways. But for you Jackie, for your purple lipstick, I shall share a couple of deepnesses supertarrallalaas. When I was really young, a really long yet very short time ago, and somewhere beyond imagination yet in everyone’s kitchen (for those who have kitchens, those who do not already know), I was given a gift. It was my birthday you see and she thought I could use a new pair of jeans. It was really sweet knowing breeze through short hair, fearless against the deeply rooted belief that if one takes a shower and one receives the wind in their face, within the same hour, their mouth will meet their eye, I could watch a sunrise hungry yet full.
Once upon a time, a family gathered around a child in a warm slightly moldy velvety living room with a large corner window by a Pinus sylvestris. The child knew her words but threw her syntax to the wind, she climbed the cushions of grandeur and gifted her wisdom to the poor, her heart breaking for the souls of lost awakenings, un-made-shy by a toe peeking through the woolen socks, diving head first into the thick laughter, the cigarette smoke and coffee textures, knowing there will never be no going back.
Time.
My sister. She brought me magic.
7 times the oracle’s epithet for finding misplaced items.
Tfeh tfeh tfeh [aimed at one’s own chest] to get rid of envy.
The Lab: Switching gears, you have several guests for your upcoming show. How did some of those relationships or connections evolve?
Zizi: Chemistry.
It is written in on the leaves of gold.
The perpetual dining table of the arts.
Sex.
Humor.
Friend - comrade - playmate.
Play.
Musakhkhan.
Pain.
All, some, and in no particular order.
The expanding web of
The Lab: Since the beginning of the talk show format in the 1940s the genre has taken on different forms across the globe. What are some of The Zizi Show’s main influences?
Zizi: Zizi you must understand is a multi time and space generator who just loves a cheese sandwich. Sometimes it is really complicated and obscene to look into influences, could the world have started with Zizi? It has been suggested. But, and this is between you and I, Zizi prefers anarchy in time and space and in how the species connect/interconnect. As Diane B., a role model for generosity, rebelliousness and the beauty in curiosity, once told me: “you just do not like being on the phone, that is who you are.” Kuteh Kuteh … Kuteh is one of my favorite mottos, it talks of liberation, loving the menstruating body and a timeless bond with an old friend, as well as a solid celebration of the silly.
I am touched and sobered by the voices of the mad on the streets, on public transport, in the corners, reminded that the mad can see. And, often times, most times, popularly, true madness is the norm. What is true and what is performance. What is sane and what is insane.
The cat (aka Rocca, The Rocks, Ruki and the Monster), sucking blood off my finger, shows me again (if only I would open my mind) that sleep, eat, stretch, play (mice may call it something else) are the essence of a good life.
The Little Prince, she was fearless.
Bodies standing for their sacred land against greed, oh them so fearless.
Bodies sustaining on hope against greedy industrial complexes profiting at the cost of their freedom. Oh them are fearless.
Seeing how popular nonsense can be, how far bullshit can go. To the sound of sexy radio voice – you know who you are – driving in a city no longer as quiet on any Friday to receive love in the form of a bursting stomach from a withdrawn matriarch, dreaming of a life behind a microphone.
Sabah Essabouha is a good influence: live, for fuck’s sake fucking live you fucking fool. For tomorrow may never be.
I also really like, what is her name, she is fat and funny and acted in that film with bollocks?
The Zizi Show is a project by The Rocca Family This talk show-performance-playground comes back with its latest edition entitled Jinjin Fear with Zizi this Thursday, November 10. Zizi will use her charms and cast her spells, surrender to Zizi and fearless you shall be. (probably, maybe).