
KRISTINE ESSER SLENTZ
Phantom Pain is an erasure project of The Phantom of the Opera. The Phantom of the Opera has been adapted across many types of media, including text, stage, and film which this project will work to include. The story portrays Christine, an orphaned woman who becomes the toxic obsession of the Phantom. By selecting and mapping particular words, images, and music from the source texts, this project will rewrite the story from one of love to one of someone overcoming abuse. Phantom Pain is a reclamation for Christine and those who identify with her.
KRISTINE ESSER SLENTZ’S work oftentimes strives to focus on the feminine human experience. In her previous publications, SLENTZ examines the impacts sexuality has on gender and queer perception through the redaction of documentation, experimental poetics, and hybrid artwork. While predominately a poet, she often incorporates other mediums to better communicate these conversations. She wishes to inform and influence these topics to those who seek to know more and those already in these communities with introspective knowledge and positive attributes.
of me
think
think
remember
please promise
once again
to take
spare me
or remember
stop think
think the things
seen don’t think
think
think
think
silent resigned
imagine me
too hard
to recall
look back
think never
when think
(Bravo!)
it seems
young and
innocent fade
fade
please promise
sometimes
think
over
those heavenly amongst us – my friends
we promise to burn in a fiery glory –
hallelujah
be weak, hungry, lonely
again
pain, loss, sorrow
I love
I love
I love
birth is about all sorts of things
bonfires bigger than money
you know we can afford it
His way, don’t have a bonfire
want something bad – pray to Jesus
kind things, I get them
that's all
talk of forget
fears I’m here
harm me
freedom
dry side to guard
say love
every
waking
summertime
promise
shelter safe
– find fears __
behind always
~share love~
solitude here
anywhere
go too
each morning
I love me
that’s all
that’s all.