Peter Sotos
Encyclopedia
Peter Sotos is a Chicago
-born writer and musician. In his books, Sotos examines sadistic sexual criminals and sexually violent
pornography, particularly involving children
. His writings are interpreted by some as commenting on media hypocrisy around these issues. His books are often first person narratives, taking on the point of view
of the sexual predator
in order to explore sadistic and pedophilic
sexual impulses.
and To Catch a Predator
as publicly acceptable forms of pornography. Predicate (2005) explores the Dunblane Massacre
in Scotland in 1996 and the motives and life of the perpetrator Thomas Watt Hamilton. Other topics covered include Operation Ore
, the Wonderland murders
, Russian orphanages, Megan's Law
, and non-nude teen websites.Comfort and Critique (2005) explores the hidden motives of reporters and citizens as shown by their reactions to sexual crimes.
.
, Sotos began producing the controversial magazine Pure, notable as the first zine
dedicated to serial killer
lore. The original publications are now collector's items.
In addition to offering many details about the crimes of serial killers and Nazis, the text in the magazine praises them, describing them using such terms as "genius", "glorious", "exemplary", and "illustrious". The text is juxtaposed with pictures and newspaper clippings relevant to the crimes discussed, showing that the media also abuse the victims. A short manifesto
introducing the first issue says the magazine "satiates and encourages true lusts."
A photocopy from a magazine of child pornography
was used as the cover of issue #2 of Pure. This cover led to Sotos's arrest on charges of obscenity
and possession of child pornography. The charges of obscenity were later dropped, but Sotos pleaded guilty to the possession charge, receiving a suspended sentence. Despite his early legal troubles, and the seemingly fatal stigma of being falsely labeled a pedophile, Sotos continues to garner support for his ideas and literary output.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
-born writer and musician. In his books, Sotos examines sadistic sexual criminals and sexually violent
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
pornography, particularly involving children
Child pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
. His writings are interpreted by some as commenting on media hypocrisy around these issues. His books are often first person narratives, taking on the point of view
Point of view (literature)
The narrative mode is the set of methods the author of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical story uses to convey the plot to the audience. Narration, the process of presenting the narrative, occurs because of the narrative mode...
of the sexual predator
Sexual predator
The term sexual predator is used pejoratively to describe a person seen as obtaining or trying to obtain sexual contact with another person in a metaphorically "predatory" manner. Analogous to how a predator hunts down its prey, so the sexual predator is thought to "hunt" for his or her sex partners...
in order to explore sadistic and pedophilic
Pedophilia
As a medical diagnosis, pedophilia is defined as a psychiatric disorder in adults or late adolescents typically characterized by a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children...
sexual impulses.
Recent books
In Show Adult (2007), Sotos analyzes the TV shows SupernannySupernanny
Supernanny is a reality TV programme which originated in the United Kingdom about parents struggling with their children's behaviour. The UK version has aired on Channel 4 with E4 showing repeats since 2004. The program returned in 2010...
and To Catch a Predator
To Catch a Predator
To Catch a Predator is an American reality television series that features hidden camera investigations by the television newsmagazine program Dateline NBC. It is devoted to impersonating underage youth and detaining adults who contact them over the Internet for sexual liaisons...
as publicly acceptable forms of pornography. Predicate (2005) explores the Dunblane Massacre
Dunblane massacre
The Dunblane massacre was a multiple murder-suicide which occurred at Dunblane Primary School in the Scottish town of Dunblane on 13 March 1996. Sixteen children and one adult were killed by Thomas Hamilton before he committed suicide.-Timeline of events:...
in Scotland in 1996 and the motives and life of the perpetrator Thomas Watt Hamilton. Other topics covered include Operation Ore
Operation Ore
Operation Ore was a British police operation that commenced in 1999 following information received from US law enforcement, which was intended to prosecute thousands of users of a website reportedly featuring child pornography...
, the Wonderland murders
Wonderland Murders
The Wonderland murders, also known as Four on the Floor or Laurel Canyon Murders, occurred in Los Angeles in 1981, when four people were killed in a drug-related scenario involving porn star John Holmes and was allegedly masterminded by Los Angeles businessman and drug dealer Eddie Nash.-Robbery...
, Russian orphanages, Megan's Law
Megan's Law
Megan's Law is an informal name for laws in the United States requiring law enforcement authorities to make information available to the public regarding registered sex offenders. Individual states decide what information will be made available and how it should be disseminated...
, and non-nude teen websites.Comfort and Critique (2005) explores the hidden motives of reporters and citizens as shown by their reactions to sexual crimes.
Musical career
Until 2003 he was a member of the seminal power electronics group WhitehouseWhitehouse (band)
Whitehouse are a pioneering English power electronics band formed in 1980, largely credited for the founding of the power electronics subgenre.-History and personnel:...
.
Pure magazine
In 1984, while the day care sex abuse hysteria phenomenon was sweeping the nation and while attending the Art Institute of ChicagoArt Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
, Sotos began producing the controversial magazine Pure, notable as the first zine
Zine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
dedicated to serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
lore. The original publications are now collector's items.
In addition to offering many details about the crimes of serial killers and Nazis, the text in the magazine praises them, describing them using such terms as "genius", "glorious", "exemplary", and "illustrious". The text is juxtaposed with pictures and newspaper clippings relevant to the crimes discussed, showing that the media also abuse the victims. A short manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
introducing the first issue says the magazine "satiates and encourages true lusts."
A photocopy from a magazine of child pornography
Child pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
was used as the cover of issue #2 of Pure. This cover led to Sotos's arrest on charges of obscenity
Obscenity
An obscenity is any statement or act which strongly offends the prevalent morality of the time, is a profanity, or is otherwise taboo, indecent, abhorrent, or disgusting, or is especially inauspicious...
and possession of child pornography. The charges of obscenity were later dropped, but Sotos pleaded guilty to the possession charge, receiving a suspended sentence. Despite his early legal troubles, and the seemingly fatal stigma of being falsely labeled a pedophile, Sotos continues to garner support for his ideas and literary output.
Works
- Pure Self published and released two issues, with a third having been completed before controversy of publication led to now-infamous trial.
- Parasite Self published twenty issues.
- Total Abuse: Collected Writings, 1984-1995: Pure, Tool, Parasite, 1995 (Goad to Hell Enterprises, Portland, OR, ISBN 1-111-17832-1, out of printOut of printOut of print refers to an item, typically a book , but can include any print or visual media or sound recording, that is in the state of no longer being published....
). - Special, 1998 (Rude Shape, ISBN 1-890528-02-1, out of printOut of printOut of print refers to an item, typically a book , but can include any print or visual media or sound recording, that is in the state of no longer being published....
). - Tick, 2000 (Creation BooksCreation BooksCreation Books is a British publishing house specializing in experimental literature, surrealism, erotic and decadent literature. Creation also publish non-fiction, with books on magic, subcultures, and taboo topics such as suicide and serial killers. They are best known for publishing a number of...
, ISBN 1-84068-048-2). - Index, 2000 (Creation Books, ISBN 1-84068-010-5).
- Lazy, 2000 (Creation Books, ISBN 1-84068-010-5).
- Selfish, Little: The Annotated Leslie Ann Downey, 2004 (Void Books).
- Proxy: Peter Sotos Pornography 1991-2000, 2005 (Creation Books), a compendium of five of Sotos' works (Tool, Special, Tick, Index and Lazy). First edition, with CD by Sotos and Steve AlbiniSteve AlbiniSteven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
(http://www.creationbooks.com/frameset.asp?p=http://www.creationbooks.com/titles/PROXY.html). - Comfort and Critique, 2005 (Void Books)
- Predicate, 2005 (Creation Books)
- Waitress, 2005 (Creation Books), Came as an extra for those who preordered a copy of Predicate from Creation Books
- Show Adult, 2007 (Creation Books)
- Waitress, 2007 (Creation Books) Separate volume from the one included with Predicate, came with orders of Show Adult in hardcover.
- Lordotics, 2008 (Creation Books)
- Perfect: The Collected Peter Sotos Volume One, 2009 (Creation Books)
- Waitress, 2009 (Creation Books) Third in a series of additional material offered in limited editions from Creation Came with pre orders of Perfect.
- Public: The Collected Peter Sotos Volume Two, 2009 (Creation Books)
- Waitress, 2009 (Creation Books) Fourth in a series of additional material offered in limited editions from Creation Came with pre orders of Public.
- Private: The Collected Peter Sotos Volume Three, 2009 (Creation Books)
- Waitress, 2009 (Creation Books) Fifth in a series of additional material offered in limited editions from Creation Came with pre orders of Private.
- Kept: The Collected Peter Sotos Volume Four, 2010 (Creation Books)
Texts featuring Sotos
- Apocalypse Culture, edited by Adam ParfreyAdam ParfreyAdam Parfrey is an American journalist, editor, and the publisher of Feral House books, whose work in all three capacities frequently centers on unusual, extreme, or "forbidden" areas of knowledge.-Life:...
, interview with Sotos (Amok Books, 1990, ISBN 0-922915-05-9) - .45 Dangerous Minds edited by Steve Blush and George PetrosGeorge PetrosGeorge Petros is an American art designer, author, illustrator and editor.In 1984, Petros created EXIT, a New York-based journal featuring contributions from Richard Kern, Nick Zedd, Lydia Lunch, Joe Coleman, J. G. Thirlwell , Genesis P-Orridge, H. R. Giger, Michael Andros, Boyd Rice, Robert R...
, interview with Sotos (Creation Books, 1999, ISBN 1-84068-124-1). - Apocalypse Culture II, edited by Adam ParfreyAdam ParfreyAdam Parfrey is an American journalist, editor, and the publisher of Feral House books, whose work in all three capacities frequently centers on unusual, extreme, or "forbidden" areas of knowledge.-Life:...
, chapter by Sotos (Feral HouseFeral HouseFeral House is a book publisher owned and operated by Adam Parfrey. The publisher itself describes the books it sells as "pure information", and says the topics of the books are "forbidden"....
, 2000, ISBN 0-922915-57-1) - The Gates of Janus by Ian Brady, afterword by Sotos (Feral House, 2001, ISBN 0-922915-73-3)
- Straight to Hell: 20th Century Suicides, edited by Nomida King, contributed to by Sotos (Creation Books, 2003, ISBN 1-84068-090-3).
External links
- Creation Books
- Peter Sotos: A Case Study in Lust and the Unconditioned by Michael Lujan
- Fucked in the Head by Travis JeppesenTravis JeppesenTravis Jeppesen , Florida is an American novelist, poet, and art critic.He grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina and moved to New York City at the age of 17. He received his B.A. from The New School, where he studied literature and philosophy...