Fatboy Chronicles

THE FATBOY CHRONICLES is an extremely personal view into the director’s “narcissistic masturbatory fantasy world” from kindergarten to present day. Fantasy yes, but all of the events and memories from that world are real. The names have not been changed, because no one (not even the artist or the sanctity of childhood) is innocent. The films in the chronicles are three distinct documents of truths tempered with hindsight and self-editing, exploring the origins of Broussards life-long attraction to other fat boys and men with side trips through the many incidents, feelings and fetishes that have sculpted his queer self-image.

Not being able to cast young actors to recreate the traumas and ecstasies from his youth, Broussard uses the art of appropriation (“Fair use” of pre-existing media) to recast his life. The only “original footage” in the series is that of photographs and slides of the artist as well as hi-8 footage of the artist shot for the series.

Part One: Rene, Rene, Qu’est-ce-que c’est?

Part Two: The Boy With a Bugle!

Part Three

" THE FAT BOY CHRONICLES: AN APPROPRIATED VIDEO DIARY
The third and final installment of Rene Broussard's epic trilogy continues his saturated investigation into the trials and humiliations of growing up fat and gay. Broussard pours over a vast archive of Hollywood and world cinema, yanking hundreds of film snippets that vividly illustrate how the icon of the fat kid is the icon of scorn. Broussard remembers the cruelty of the schoolyard. The fat kid is the easy target in the sadistic world of pubescent male power rituals, and the clips heavily depict scenes of denigration and corporeal punishment: boarding school canings, parental spankings, and bullyish pranks. Oh, and it's a comedy. The erotic pre-teen aggression is disarming and subversive, and Broussard takes many opportunities to place himself (via childhood photos) into this wickedly taboo tableau. The depictions are offset by musings over his own childhood pain, personal development, and sexual awakening. Although he uses an autobiographical framework to tell us the story of his arrival at self-acceptance, Broussard's work doesn't fall into the video-as-therapy trap. Itís a complicated study of harsh social ordering, sexual organization and lust. In his own words, it's a construction of a "narcissistic masturbatory fantasy world.""
- Dewey Schott, San Francisco Lesbian and Gay Film Festival 2001 program notes

ORDERING:

THE FATBOY CHRONICLES . The videos are available on vhs or DVD (ntsc) for a donation of $25 plus $5 shipping and handling. Or on vhs or DVD (pal, all regions) for a donation of $30 plus $10 shipping and handling outside the U.S.

ALSO AVAILABLE: 401 BLOWS: PARTS ONE, TWO, THREE or FOUR. Each Part is available on vhs or DVD (ntsc) for a donation of $25 plus $5 shipping and handling. Or on vhs or DVD (pal, all regions) for a contribution of $30 plus $10 shipping and handling outside the U.S. Please indicate which Parts you would like to receive with your donation.

PARDON! PARDON! The Cajun Mardi Gras Chase .The videos are available on vhs or DVD (ntsc) for a donation of $25 plus $5 shipping and handling. Or on vhs or DVD (pal, all regions) for a donation of $30 plus $10 shipping and handling outside the U.S.

SPECIAL OFFER: ORDER FOUR OR MORE videos or DVDs and the shipping is free.

Checks, money orders, or credit cards are accepted for orders within the United States. International orders by credit card or international money order only.

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Checks or money orders should be sent and made payable to:
Zeitgeist Inc.
1618 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70113

All proceeds benefit Zeitgeist Multi-disciplinary Arts Center, a non-profit - entirely volunteer run -media arts organization.