Editing Valerie Solanas (section)

== New York City and the Factory ==
[[File:Warhol silver trunk 03.jpg|thumb|right|alt=silver painted trunk within a Plexiglas vitrine|This prop trunk, used in [[Andy Warhol]]'s Silver [[The Factory|Factory]], is where the copy of the "Up Your Ass" script Solanas gave Warhol was eventually found after Warhol's death in 1987.]]

In the mid-1960s, Solanas moved to New York City and supported herself through [[begging]] and [[Prostitution in the United States|prostitution]].<ref name="Heller2001" /><ref>{{harvp|Hamilton|2002|pp=264 ''ff''}}.</ref> In 1965, she wrote two works: an autobiographical<ref>{{harvp|Solanas|1968|p=89}}.</ref> short story, "A Young Girl's Primer on How to Attain the Leisure Class",<!--Some sources title this work "A Young Girl's Primer or How to Attain the Leisure Class", but the original typed version uses "on", not "or".--> and a play, ''[[Up Your Ass (play)|Up Your Ass]]'',{{Efn|The original title of the work is ''Up Your Ass, or, From the Cradle to the Boat, or, The Big Suck, or, Up from the Slime''.<ref name="Lord" /><ref name="Fahs2008" />}} about a young prostitute.<ref name="Heller2001" /> According to James Martin Harding, the play is "based on a plot about a woman who 'is a man-hating hustler and panhandler' and who&nbsp;... ends up killing a man."<ref name="CuttingPerfs-p168">{{harvp|Harding|2010|p=168}}.</ref> Harding describes it as more a "provocation than&nbsp;... a work of dramatic literature"<ref>{{harvp|Harding|2010|p=169}}.</ref> and "rather adolescent and contrived".<ref name="CuttingPerfs-p168" /> The short story was published in [[Cavalier (magazine)|''Cavalier'' magazine]] in July 1966.<ref>{{harvp|Watson|2003|p=447}}.</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Solanas |first=Valerie |title=For 2¢: Pain |journal=[[Cavalier (magazine)|Cavalier]] |date=July 1966 |pages=38–40, 76–77}}</ref> ''Up Your Ass'' remained unpublished until 2014.<ref>{{cite book |last=Solanas |first=Valerie |date=March 31, 2014 |title=Up Your Ass |publisher=VandA.ePublishing |asin=B00JE6N2UG}}</ref>

In 1967, Solanas called [[pop art]]ist [[Andy Warhol]] at his studio, [[the Factory]], and asked him to produce ''Up Your Ass''. According to Warhol, he thought the title was "wonderful" and he invited her to come over with it.<ref name="Warhol 1980">{{Cite book |last=Warhol |first=Andy |url=https://archive.org/details/popismwarhol60s0000warh/mode/2up?q=valerie |title=Popism: The Warhol '60s |date=1980 |publisher=Harcourt Brace Jovanovich |isbn=978-0-15-173095-7 |location=New York |pages=271}}</ref> He accepted the script for review, told Solanas it was "well typed", and promised to read it.<ref name="Nickels2005C" /> However, when he read the script he thought it was so [[pornographic]] that it must have been a police trap.<ref name="Warhol 1980" /> Solanas later contacted Warhol about the script and when she was told that he had lost it, she started demanding money.<ref name="Warhol 1980" /> She was staying at the [[Hotel Chelsea|Chelsea Hotel]] and told Warhol that she needed money for rent so he offered to pay her $25 to appear in his film ''[[I, a Man]]'' (1967).<ref name="Warhol 1980" /><ref name="Nickels2005C" />

In her role in ''I, a Man'', Solanas leaves the film's title character, played by [[Tom Baker (American actor)|Tom Baker]], to fend for himself, explaining, "I gotta go beat my meat" as she exits the scene.<ref>{{Cite video |people=Warhol, Andy (Director) |date=1967 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0220569 |title=I, a Man |medium=Motion picture}}</ref> She was satisfied with her experience working with Warhol and her performance in the film, and brought [[Maurice Girodias]], the founder of [[Olympia Press]], to see it. Girodias described her as being "very relaxed and friendly with Warhol". Solanas also had a nonspeaking role in Warhol's film ''[[Bike Boy]]'' (1967).<ref>{{harvp|Kaufman|Ortenberg|Rosset|2004|p=201}}.</ref>

=== ''SCUM Manifesto'' ===
{{Main|SCUM Manifesto}}

In 1967, Solanas self-published her best-known work, the ''SCUM Manifesto'', a scathing critique of [[Patriarchy|patriarchal culture]]. The manifesto's opening words are:<ref>{{harvp|Solanas|1967|p=1}}.</ref><ref>{{harvp|DeMonte|2010|p=178}}.</ref>

{{Blockquote|text=<!-- The quotation marks within the quotation are in the original. -->"Life" in this "society" being, at best, an utter bore and no aspect of "society" being at all relevant to women, there remains to civic-minded, responsible, thrill-seeking females only to overthrow the government, eliminate the money system, institute complete automation and eliminate the male sex.}}

Some authors have argued that the ''Manifesto'' is a [[SCUM Manifesto#As parody and satire|parody and satirical work]] targeting patriarchy. According to Harding, Solanas described herself as "a social propagandist",<ref>{{harvp|Harding|2010|p=152}}, citing {{harvp|Frank|1996|p=211}}.</ref> but she denied that the work was "a put on"<ref name="Marmorstein_9">{{harvp|Marmorstein|1968|p=9}}.</ref> and insisted that her intent was "dead serious".<ref name="Marmorstein_9" /> The ''Manifesto'' has been translated into over a dozen languages and is excerpted in several [[feminism|feminist]] anthologies.<ref>{{harvp|Hewitt|2004|p=603}}.</ref><ref>{{harvp|Morgan|1970|pp=514–519}}.</ref><ref>See also {{harvp|Rich|1993|p=17}}.</ref><ref>{{harvp|Heller|2008|p=165}}, citing as excerpting ''SCUM Manifesto'':<br />{{cite book |editor1-last=Kolmar |editor1-first=Wendy |editor2-last=Bartkowski |editor2-first=Frances |title=Feminist Theory: A Reader |location=Mountain View, California |publisher=Mayfield |date=2000}}<br /> {{cite book |editor1-last=Albert |editor1-first=Judith Clavir |editor2-last=Albert |editor2-first=Stewart Edward |title=The Sixties Papers: Documents of a Rebellious Decade |date=1984}}</ref>

While living at the [[Hotel Chelsea|Chelsea Hotel]], Solanas introduced herself to Girodias, a fellow resident of the hotel. In August 1967, Girodias and Solanas signed<ref>{{harvp|Harron|1996|p=xxi}}.</ref> an informal contract stating that she would give Girodias her "next writing, and other writings".<ref name="Baer-Outlaw-p202">{{harvp|Kaufman|Ortenberg|Rosset|2004|p=202}}.</ref> In exchange, Girodias paid her $500.<ref name="Baer-Outlaw-p202" /><ref>{{harvp|Watson|2003|p=334}}.</ref><ref name="BaerAbt-p51">{{harvp|Baer|1996|p=51}}.</ref> Solanas took this to mean that Girodias would own her work.<ref name="BaerAbt-p51" /> She told [[Paul Morrissey]] that "everything I write will be his. He's done this to me&nbsp;.... He's screwed me!"<ref name="BaerAbt-p51" /> Solanas intended to write a novel based on the ''SCUM Manifesto'' and believed that a conspiracy was behind Warhol's failure to return the ''Up Your Ass'' script. She suspected that he was coordinating with Girodias to steal her work.

=== Shooting ===
{{main|Attempted assassination of Andy Warhol}}
[[File:Andy Warhol by Jack Mitchell.jpg|thumb|[[Andy Warhol]] and his dachshund [[Archie Warhol]], 1973]]
On June 3, 1968, Valerie Solanas arrived at the [[Hotel Chelsea]] and asked for Girodias, who was unavailable. She stayed there for three hours before heading to the [[Grove Press]], where she asked for [[Barney Rosset]], who was also not available.<ref name="KaufmanRosset2004C-p202-3">{{harvp|Kaufman|Ortenberg|Rosset|2004|pp=202–203}}.</ref> In her 2014 biography of Solanas, Breanne Fahs argues that it is unlikely that she appeared at the Hotel Chelsea looking for Girodias, speculating that Girodias may have fabricated the account to boost sales for the ''SCUM Manifesto''.<ref name="Fahs_133">{{harvp|Fahs|2014|p=133}}.</ref> Instead, is believed to have been at the Actors Studio in Manhattan early that morning. Actress [[Sylvia Miles]] claimed Solanas arrived at the Actors Studio looking for [[Lee Strasberg]], asking to leave a copy of ''Up Your Ass''.<ref name="Fahs_133" /> Miles informed Solanas that Strasberg would not be in until the afternoon, accepted the script, and then shut the door because she knew Solanas was trouble.<ref name="Fahs_133" />

Solanas then visited producer [[Margo Feiden]] (then Margo Eden) in Brooklyn to convince her to produce ''Up Your Ass''. Feiden repeatedly refused to produce the play, so Solanas pulled out her gun and she promised to shoot Andy Warhol to make her and the play famous. As she left Feiden's residence, she handed her a partial copy of an earlier draft of the play and other personal papers.<ref>{{harvp|Fahs|2014|at=[https://books.google.com/books?id=h9ZWAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT323 footnote 198]}}.</ref><ref>{{harvp|Fahs|2014|pp=134–137}}.</ref> Feiden reported the incident to her local police precinct, but they responded with reluctance, stating that arresting someone because they believed she was going to kill Warhol was impossible.<ref name="Fahs_137">{{harvp|Fahs|2014|p=137}}.</ref> 

Solanas went to the Factory and waited outside for Andy to get money. Morrissey arrived and tried to get rid of her by telling her Warhol wouldn't be in that day.<ref name="KaufmanRosset2004C-p203">{{harvp|Kaufman|Ortenberg|Rosset|2004|p=203}}.</ref> She left but later entered the building with Warhol and Factory assistant [[Jed Johnson (designer)|Jed Johnson]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Member |first=Samuel Spencer Newsweek Is A. Trust Project |date=2022-03-10 |title=When and Why Andy Warhol Was Shot |url=https://www.newsweek.com/andy-warhol-diaries-when-why-shot-valerie-solanas-netflix-1686744 |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref> While Warhol was on the phone, Solanas fired at him three times. Her first two shots missed, but the third went through his [[spleen]], [[stomach]], [[liver]], [[esophagus]], and [[lung|lungs]].<ref name="KaufmanRosset2004C-p202-3" /> She then also shot art critic [[Mario Amaya]].<ref name="Harding2010C">{{harvp|Harding|2010|pp=151–173}}.</ref> Warhol was taken to [[Cabrini Medical Center|Columbus–Mother Cabrini Hospital]] in critical condition, where he underwent a successful five-hour operation.<ref name="KaufmanRosset2004C-p202-3" /><ref>{{harvp|Dillenberger|2001|p=31}}.</ref>

Later that day, Solanas turned herself in to police, gave up her gun, and confessed to the shooting,<ref>{{harvp|Baer|1996|p=53}}.</ref> telling an officer that Warhol "had too much control in my life".<ref name="Harding2010B">{{harvp|Harding|2010|p=152}}.</ref> She was fingerprinted and charged with [[felonious assault]] and possession of a deadly weapon.<ref name="KaufmanRosset2004C-p204">{{harvp|Kaufman|Ortenberg|Rosset|2004|p=204}}.</ref> The next morning, the New York ''[[New York Daily News|Daily News]]'' ran the front-page headline: "Actress Shoots Andy Warhol". Solanas demanded a retraction of the statement that she was an actress. The ''Daily News'' changed the headline in its later edition and added a quote from Solanas stating, "I'm a writer, not an actress."<ref name="Harding2010B" />

=== Trial ===
At her arraignment in [[Manhattan Criminal Court]], Solanas denied shooting Warhol because he would not produce her play but said "it was for the opposite reason",<ref name="ActressDefiant-col1">{{cite news |last1=Faso |first1=Frank |first2=Henry |last2=Lee |date=June 5, 1968 |title=Actress defiant: 'I'm not sorry' |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |volume=49 |issue=297 |page=42}}</ref> that "he has a legal claim on my works".<ref name="ActressDefiant-col1" />  She declared that she wanted to represent herself<ref name="KaufmanRosset2004C-p204" /> and she insisted that she "was right in what I did! I have nothing to regret!"<ref name="KaufmanRosset2004C-p204" /> The judge struck Solanas' comments from the court record and had her admitted to [[Bellevue Hospital]] for psychiatric observation.<ref name="KaufmanRosset2004C-p204" />{{Quote box |width=26em |align=right |bgcolor=#c6dbf7 |halign=left |quote=I consider that a moral act. And I consider it immoral that I missed. I should have done target practice.|source = — Valerie Solanas on her assassination attempt on Andy Warhol<ref name="replies">{{cite journal |title=Valerie Solanas replies |date=August 1, 1977 |journal=The Village Voice |volume=XXII |issue=31 |page=29}}</ref><ref name="Third">{{harvp|Third|2006}}.</ref>}}
After a cursory evaluation, Solanas was declared mentally unstable and transferred to the prison ward of [[Elmhurst Hospital Center|Elmhurst Hospital]].<ref>{{harvp|Fahs|2014|p=198}}.</ref> She appeared at [[New York Supreme Court]] on June 13, 1968. [[Florynce Kennedy]] represented her and asked for a writ of {{lang|la|[[habeas corpus]]}}, arguing that Solanas was being held inappropriately at Elmhurst. The judge denied the motion and Solanas returned to Elmhurst. On June 28, Solanas was indicted on charges of [[attempted murder]], assault, and illegal possession of a firearm.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 29, 1968 |title=Woman Indicated in N.Y. In Warhol Shooting |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-valerie-solanas-indicte/157789249/ |work=The Buffalo News |pages=3}}</ref> She was declared "incompetent" in August and sent to [[Matteawan State Hospital for the Criminally Insane]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 17, 1968 |title=Girl Who Shot Andy Warhol Ruled Insane |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-valerie-solan/157789401/ |work=The San Francisco Examiner |pages=3}}</ref> That same month, [[Olympia Press]] published the ''SCUM Manifesto'' with essays by Girodias and Krassner.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sorensen |first=Robert |date=1968-08-18 |title=SCUM Founder Puts Men Down With Loud Thud |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-scum-founder-puts-men-down/170843768/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |work=Star Tribune |pages=E 7}}</ref>

In January 1969, Solanas underwent psychiatric evaluation and was diagnosed with chronic [[paranoid schizophrenia]].<ref name="Watson35" /> In June, she was deemed fit to stand trial. She represented herself without an attorney and pleaded guilty to "reckless assault with intent to harm".<ref name="Jansen153">{{harvp|Jansen|2011|p=153}}.</ref><ref name="AKPress55">{{harvp|Solanas|1996|p=55}}.</ref> Solanas was sentenced to three years in prison, with one year of time served.<ref name="Jansen153" /><ref name="AKPress55" />