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Uninstalling Normality (2024)

A LADA Study Room Guide on Madness, Mad Pride & Questioning Normality by Dolly Sen

This Study Room Guide on Madness, Mad Pride & Questioning Normality was initially commissioned by LADA in 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic delayed its publishing and printing, and its final review occurred in early 2024.

The guide takes the form of reflections on the power of language relating to mental health conditions, the tyranny of normality, double consciousness, and much more. It contains a list of artists whose work centres on themes relevant to this guide, as well as in-depth interviews with three artists: Bobby Baker, The Vacuum Cleaner (James Ledbitter) and Rebekah Ubuntu. There is also a reference list where you can find the work each artist mentions.

Dolly Sen (she/they) has a brain of ill-repute. Because of this, she is an internationally renowned writer, filmmaker, artist, performer and activist. She is a disabled working class, Brown, Queer person who is interested in the disability and madness given to us by the world. She wants to disrupt systems that produce that programming called oppression, not through trojan horse viruses but with my little ponies on acid with a little sadness in their hearts. She does this by using creativity, love, rage and sheep. Her recent work includes sectioning the DWP and confronting misogynistic medicine dressed as a wandering womb with a clitoris hat.

She lives in Norwich with her partner and dog.

Website / Instagram

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An illustrated wonky-shaped red heart. In typewriter font in the centre of the heart, it reads 'pathologise this'

Banner image credit:

Dolly Sen.

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