Absolute Pleasure: Rocky Horror at 50

Join us at Hive Mind Books, Bushwick's queer bookstore and coffee shop, for the launch of the brand new anthology Absolute Pleasure: Queer Perspectives On Rocky Horror!

Featuring readings and conversation with editor Margot Atwell and contributors Magdalene Visaggio and Roxy Ruedas about the film's legacy and what it stands to teach us about building and sustaining queer community.

After the discussion, they'll sign copies of the book. Hive Mind's coffee and mocktail bar will be open for the duration of the event.

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Since its earliest midnight showings five decades ago, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has been an underground sensation. Since then, people around the world have dressed up and gathered in dark theaters to dance, yell, mime obscene acts, and forge connections with other queer people and weirdos.

The film shattered expectations and social norms at the time of its release. But does its presentation of gender and sexuality still resonate with audiences today? Contributors to Absolute Pleasure will discuss the film's complicated legacy, along with queer and trans joy, sexuality, family, and what we do with our problematic faves. They’ll discuss how we create and nurture queer community IRL, and what lessons we can take from fifty years of shadowcast screenings that can inform our efforts to build and sustain queer community today.

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Books will be available to purchase at Hive Mind Books. We ask that books signed at our events be purchased at our bookstore. Book sales ensure that our independent queer bookstore can continue to keep the lights on and bring great events like this to our neighborhood. Thank you for your support!

If you would like a signed copy, but cannot attend the event, you can order a signed book from us. We ship most places!

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PRAISE FOR ABSOLUTE PLEASURE

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show rocked my world as a teenager in the ’70s, and the light it showed me over at the Frankenstein place was where I first learned I could remove the cause, and enjoy the symptom, of being trans. The essays in this expansive anthology are so many lighters, held aloft, that illuminate the enduring influence of this film.” —Susan Stryker, author of When Monsters Speak

“Absolute Pleasure delivers exactly that! Knowing that so many fellow, lonely young outsiders were guided to the light over at the Frankenstein place and found where they truly belonged reaffirms my lifelong passion and fandom for all things Rocky Horror. I smiled so much while reading this that my face began to ache.” —Peaches Christ, filmmaker and cult leader

“Absolute Pleasure is a poignant and timely reflection on this iconic film and what it has meant to so many, not just as a movie watched but as an experience and a cultural touchstone. At a time when our community needs it most, this collection brings playful hope." —Sassafras Patterdale, author of Lost Boi

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CONTRIBUTORS

Margot Atwell is a writer, editor, publisher, and creative community builder. She was once called “Book Biz Cassandra” by Publishers Weekly. She is the author of Derby Life: A Crash Course in the Incredible Sport of Roller Derby and coauthor of The Insider’s Guide to Book Publishing Success, and she writes the On the Books newsletter about the intersection of creativity and money. Her writing has been published in Literary Hub, The Creative Independent, Clarkesworld, and elsewhere. She was the cofounder and publisher of the now-defunct Derbylife.com, and is the cofounder and publisher of micropress Gutpunch Press. She lives in Brooklyn, and you can find her online @MargotAtwell and www.margotatwell.com.

Roxy Ruedas is a queer, trans, and Filipino New Yorker who grew up loving theater and found The Rocky Horror Picture Show somewhere along the way. Roxy has a BA in both education and the study of women and gender from Smith College, and now works as an educator. In his free time, it enjoys writing tabletop RPGs and seeing various Rocky Horror shadow casts. This anthology marks Roxy’s first publication, and it is honored to have been included in a project that has meant so much to him.

Magdalene Visaggio is an Eisner-nominated writer known for sharp, stylish stories that blend punk rock attitude with heart. Her work includes Kim & Kim, Quantum Teens Are Go, Eternity Girl, and Vagrant Queen. She also collaborated with Zack Snyder on Rebel Moon: House of the Bloodaxe. She lives in New York City.

Joanna Acevedo is the author of three books and two chapbooks. Born and raised in New York City, she earned her MFA from NYU in 2021, and also holds degrees from Bard College and the New School. Her work in all genres can be found across the web and in print, she’s had every job in indie publishing at one time or another; most recently she did a six-month stint as Editor in Chief of Frontier Poetry. Currently, she’s focused on creating new kinds of creative and low/no-cost accessible resources in arts education, using her skills for good, not evil. Learn more about her and her work on her website: https://www.joannaacevedo.net.

Host or Publisher Hive Mind Books