This is not exactly breaking news, but it's weird enough to warrant a link: Author announces mortal work of art. Other commentary here, here, here. From the Seattle Times:
... Some writers are plagued with the worry that publication of their work will hurt others, but in the case of New York author Shelley Jackson the question is moot: She knows her work will hurt people. That's because Jackson is publishing her latest story on the backs, legs, arms, necks and feet of eager volunteers — in the form of single-word tattoos....I hate to sound negative, but this sounds like a rather dubious endeavor to me. Time will tell.
After evaluating applicants' personal statements, Jackson assigns the words one at a time, in the order of the story, and including any adjacent punctuation marks. Accepted parties must acquire and pay for the tattoos on their own, sending a photo to Jackson as proof. The full text will not be published anywhere else, even in summary. Only participants, sworn to secrecy, will be told the story in its entirety, and only after all the tattoos have been etched in ink....
"Participants must accept the word they are given, but they may choose the site of their tattoo, with the exception of words naming specific body parts, which may be anywhere but the body part named."
"Tattoos must be in black ink and a classic Book font."
"From this point on, participants will be known as 'words.' They are not understood as carriers or agents of the text they bear, but as its embodiments."
The chosen "words" must be 18 or older and must sign a waiver "releasing the author from any responsibility for health problems, body-image disorders, job loss, or relationship difficulties that may result from the tattooing process."
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