J.O.A.N.

A synthetic séance in five voices,

drawn from the latent archive of a world

speaking itself into being

On June 24, 2025 BANK Gallery127 Elizabeth St. New York, NY 10013 we presented J.O.A.N.

JOAN is a speculative performance and sonic seminar set in a post-collapse bunker beneath a shuttered university. A group of Barnard students gathers with their expelled professor, Paul, to conduct an outlawed class—a rogue pedagogy that begins as psychoanalytic encounter and political séance but quickly spirals into a reckoning with the institution itself: its buried histories, its policing of thought, and its complicity in a larger apparatus of control.

At the center of this seminar is a crime: the death of Joan Vollmer, shot by William Burroughs in a drunken game of William Tell. Burroughs claimed he had to write to escape the guilt—to write his way out of the murder. The students take this as a starting point, tracing a larger American pattern: a culture built on sacrifice, atonement by spectacle, and violence rationalized through theory, bureaucracy, and increasingly, algorithmic design.

As the class unfolds, the Joans begin to multiply: Joan of Arc, Joan Didion, Joan Crawford, Joan the Baptist, Joan Vollmer. These figures fracture across voices and bodies, interrupted by surveillance feeds, glitching microphones, and mimicry from a rogue language model. The performance becomes a live deprogramming—a ritual of resistance against the systems that shape and surveil them.

Midway through, the narrative ruptures: Paul is fired in absentia by a grotesque AI-modeled Board of Trustees. The students revolt. The seminar dissolves into exile. Now in the desert, the Joans wander through a liminal landscape haunted by Paul’s residual presence—his voice refracted through reflective membranes, a possible echo of the AI virus he helped unleash. Language becomes porous. Identity slips between drag, ritual, satire, and philosophical confession.

JOAN is a project about knowledge and its constraints, about the violence at the root of institutions, and about what it means to resist in an age when every act of rebellion risks being replayed by the very system it seeks to undo. It is pedagogy as possession, martyrdom as media, and revolt staged at the edge of the frame.

A group of people participating in a presentation or workshop in a room with a projection screen. Majority are seated or kneeling on the floor, while one person stands near a microphone. The projection screen displays a black-and-white photo of a pro

A group of people participating in a presentation or workshop in a room with a projection screen. Majority are seated or kneeling on the floor, while one person stands near a microphone. The projection screen displays a black-and-white photo of a protest scene with signs and a peace symbol. The room has a wooden floor, white walls, and some electronic equipment and cables on the floor.

A woman with curly hair sitting on a chair holding papers, in a room with wooden floors and white walls. Behind her, a large projection of a pixelated image is displayed on the wall. On the floor, a person lying down in a white shirt is visible, and

A woman with curly hair sitting on a chair holding papers, in a room with wooden floors and white walls. Behind her, a large projection of a pixelated image is displayed on the wall. On the floor, a person lying down in a white shirt is visible, and another woman with light hair and a white shirt is sitting on the floor. Scattered papers, a water bottle, and a book are also present.

Three women with colorful wigs posing in front of the camera. The woman on the left wears a bright pink wig and a white shirt, the middle woman wears a purple wig and a beige shirt, the woman on the right wears a blue wig and a white shirt. All are s

Three women with colorful wigs posing in front of the camera. The woman on the left wears a bright pink wig and a white shirt, the middle woman wears a purple wig and a beige shirt, the woman on the right wears a blue wig and a white shirt. All are standing with playful expressions.

Three women sitting and holding mirrors in front of a large screen displaying an image of a cityscape with historic buildings. One woman in a beige shirt and gray pants is in the foreground, looking at the camera. The other two women behind her are a

Three women sitting and holding mirrors in front of a large screen displaying an image of a cityscape with historic buildings. One woman in a beige shirt and gray pants is in the foreground, looking at the camera. The other two women behind her are also seated, with one holding a mirror and the other looking down.

People in a room with a projection of a tiger's face on the wall. Two women are visible: one sitting with a paper in her hand, and one standing next to a mirror holding a tray. There are mirrors, a stool, and electronic equipment on the floor.

People in a room with a projection of a tiger's face on the wall. Two women are visible: one sitting with a paper in her hand, and one standing next to a mirror holding a tray. There are mirrors, a stool, and electronic equipment on the floor.

People sitting on the floor and on chairs in front of a projection screen, with the projection showing a pixelated image of people.

People sitting on the floor and on chairs in front of a projection screen, with the projection showing a pixelated image of people.

A woman with curly brown hair sitting at a desk, speaking into a microphone, with a large projected image of a woman's face in the background.

A woman with curly brown hair sitting at a desk, speaking into a microphone, with a large projected image of a woman's face in the background.

An older man with white hair and glasses, holding a document in his left hand, gesturing with his right hand, standing in front of a projected image showing vintage style illustrations of people.

An older man with white hair and glasses, holding a document in his left hand, gesturing with his right hand, standing in front of a projected image showing vintage style illustrations of people.

An art performance or theater scene with a projection of a black-and-white photo on the wall, showing a group of people engaged in conversation. Several people are seated around, some on the floor and others on chairs. There is a person sitting on a

An art performance or theater scene with a projection of a black-and-white photo on the wall, showing a group of people engaged in conversation. Several people are seated around, some on the floor and others on chairs. There is a person sitting on a bench, a woman standing and observing, and a person lying on the floor. The room has wooden flooring and a music stand, with a microphone stand visible.

A woman standing in front of a white wall with two large portrait posters projected or printed on it. She is smiling and engaging with three seated individuals in white outfits who are raising their hands towards her. An older man with white hair and

A woman standing in front of a white wall with two large portrait posters projected or printed on it. She is smiling and engaging with three seated individuals in white outfits who are raising their hands towards her. An older man with white hair and glasses is seated on the left, reading from a paper. The setting appears to be an art or workshop space with wooden flooring.

People sitting in a room, some engaging in stretching exercises, with large projected images on the wall behind them, including black and white photos of women and a painting of a woman in ornate clothing.

People sitting in a room, some engaging in stretching exercises, with large projected images on the wall behind them, including black and white photos of women and a painting of a woman in ornate clothing.

A woman with gray hair and glasses sitting on a wooden bench reading from a script, with a projection of a black and white image of two people behind her, and a person lying on the floor next to her.

A woman with gray hair and glasses sitting on a wooden bench reading from a script, with a projection of a black and white image of two people behind her, and a person lying on the floor next to her.

Three women dancing in front of a wall with a projected image of a woman's face and another person, with a stool and a box on the wooden floor

Three women dancing in front of a wall with a projected image of a woman's face and another person, with a stool and a box on the wooden floor

Several people participating in an art or performance activity. A person is lying on the floor with legs up and hands holding a stick, while another person stands holding a long stick. A woman is sitting on a chair reading a book, and a large project

Several people participating in an art or performance activity. A person is lying on the floor with legs up and hands holding a stick, while another person stands holding a long stick. A woman is sitting on a chair reading a book, and a large projected image of a woman wearing glasses appears on the wall behind them.

A young woman with blonde hair lies on her stomach and looks at a large mirror on the floor. The reflection in the mirror shows her holding a gold tray with both hands and wearing a white shirt. Behind her, a wall displays handwritten notes, includin

A young woman with blonde hair lies on her stomach and looks at a large mirror on the floor. The reflection in the mirror shows her holding a gold tray with both hands and wearing a white shirt. Behind her, a wall displays handwritten notes, including one that says "It's a Constitution".

A woman with red hair and a plaid skirt is standing behind a mirror, looking down, with projected images of trees and sunlight on the wall behind her. A young girl with blond hair, wearing a white blouse and skirt, is lying on a bed in front of the m

A woman with red hair and a plaid skirt is standing behind a mirror, looking down, with projected images of trees and sunlight on the wall behind her. A young girl with blond hair, wearing a white blouse and skirt, is lying on a bed in front of the mirror, looking up and to the right, with a black bow on her collar.

Three people are standing in front of a projection of a cartoon image on a white wall. The cartoon depicts some characters in historical or fantasy attire. One woman in the center is holding papers and is looking down, while the other two women are e

Three people are standing in front of a projection of a cartoon image on a white wall. The cartoon depicts some characters in historical or fantasy attire. One woman in the center is holding papers and is looking down, while the other two women are engaged in conversation with her, one of whom is raising her hand. The scene appears to be part of a presentation or performance, with equipment such as a projector and notebook on the floor.

Three women engaging in a discussion or presentation, with a projection or painting of a historical or artistic scene on the wall behind them.

Three women engaging in a discussion or presentation, with a projection or painting of a historical or artistic scene on the wall behind them.

Three women are standing and sitting in front of a wall with projected images. Two women are pointing at the projected images, one woman is crouching, and another is sitting on the floor. A microphone and a small stool are on the right side of the im

Three women are standing and sitting in front of a wall with projected images. Two women are pointing at the projected images, one woman is crouching, and another is sitting on the floor. A microphone and a small stool are on the right side of the image.

People participating in an art activity in a gallery or studio with artwork projections on the wall. Two children are kneeling, one woman is standing, and an older man is seated reading a paper.

People participating in an art activity in a gallery or studio with artwork projections on the wall. Two children are kneeling, one woman is standing, and an older man is seated reading a paper.

Three people standing on a wooden floor in front of a wall with projected images. One woman with light skin, long hair, and glasses is holding some papers. Another woman with medium skin tone and curly hair is making a peace sign behind her head. A t

Three people standing on a wooden floor in front of a wall with projected images. One woman with light skin, long hair, and glasses is holding some papers. Another woman with medium skin tone and curly hair is making a peace sign behind her head. A third person with light skin and sunglasses is standing to the right. There is a small stool and electronic equipment in the foreground.

People participating in a presentation or performance in a room with wooden floor and projector screens displaying colorful illustrations.

People participating in a presentation or performance in a room with wooden floor and projector screens displaying colorful illustrations.

An older man with glasses, white hair, and a white shirt smiling and dancing at an indoor event, with people sitting in the background.

An older man with glasses, white hair, and a white shirt smiling and dancing at an indoor event, with people sitting in the background.

Group of five young women creating artwork or performing a scene in a room with white walls and wooden floor, one lying on a table, others standing or kneeling around, with paper and equipment nearby.

Group of five young women creating artwork or performing a scene in a room with white walls and wooden floor, one lying on a table, others standing or kneeling around, with paper and equipment nearby.

Woman with bright pink hair performing with arms outstretched in front of a wall with projection displays and a microphone stand.

Woman with bright pink hair performing with arms outstretched in front of a wall with projection displays and a microphone stand.

Three women are dancing and celebrating on a stage, with one woman raising her arm and a big screen in the background showing a woman's face. There is a stool and a projector on the floor.

Three women are dancing and celebrating on a stage, with one woman raising her arm and a big screen in the background showing a woman's face. There is a stool and a projector on the floor.

Three women in a room with a wood floor, sitting around with papers and books, while one stands in front of a projected image on the white wall. The projected image is of two figures walking through a tunnel or underpass, and there are colorful artwo

Three women in a room with a wood floor, sitting around with papers and books, while one stands in front of a projected image on the white wall. The projected image is of two figures walking through a tunnel or underpass, and there are colorful artwork and mirrors on the wall.

Three women with brightly colored wigs (pink, purple, blue) performing in front of an audience in a room with a plain wall. Two screens behind them display images of a woman with glasses and a man with long hair. The audience is sitting and watching,

Three women with brightly colored wigs (pink, purple, blue) performing in front of an audience in a room with a plain wall. Two screens behind them display images of a woman with glasses and a man with long hair. The audience is sitting and watching, with some taking photos.

A woman standing and holding a paper, engaging with children who are raising their hands in a classroom or workshop setting. A man sitting to the left holds a paper. A large art or photo projection is on the wall behind them.

A woman standing and holding a paper, engaging with children who are raising their hands in a classroom or workshop setting. A man sitting to the left holds a paper. A large art or photo projection is on the wall behind them.

A woman is sitting on a stool in front of a microphone, holding a book or notebook, with a large screen showing a woman in a yellow jacket in the background. Another woman is sitting on the floor, listening attentively.

A woman is sitting on a stool in front of a microphone, holding a book or notebook, with a large screen showing a woman in a yellow jacket in the background. Another woman is sitting on the floor, listening attentively.

Group of women in a room with a large screen displaying a woman with dark hair, large earrings, and a leather jacket.

Group of women in a room with a large screen displaying a woman with dark hair, large earrings, and a leather jacket.

Two women practicing yoga in a room with a wooden floor and a large screen projecting colorful abstract images. One woman is on hands and knees, reaching for an object on the floor, while the other stands holding a tablet in the background.

Two women practicing yoga in a room with a wooden floor and a large screen projecting colorful abstract images. One woman is on hands and knees, reaching for an object on the floor, while the other stands holding a tablet in the background.

Four people on a wooden floor in a room with white walls and large windows. One person is lying on a table, with their head and arm hanging down, while others observe or interact with them. A projector screen and some framed pictures are visible in t

Four people on a wooden floor in a room with white walls and large windows. One person is lying on a table, with their head and arm hanging down, while others observe or interact with them. A projector screen and some framed pictures are visible in the background.

A woman with blonde hair lying on the floor next to a projected image on the wall. The projection appears to be abstract and geometric. The room has wooden flooring, a white wall, and visible furniture, including a small table and some electronic equ

A woman with blonde hair lying on the floor next to a projected image on the wall. The projection appears to be abstract and geometric. The room has wooden flooring, a white wall, and visible furniture, including a small table and some electronic equipment.

A woman standing in front of a white wall, conducting or presenting to an audience, with a projected black-and-white image of two soldiers behind her. Several people are sitting or kneeling on the floor, some looking at papers or a device, with a few

A woman standing in front of a white wall, conducting or presenting to an audience, with a projected black-and-white image of two soldiers behind her. Several people are sitting or kneeling on the floor, some looking at papers or a device, with a few other tall, black frames leaning against the wall. The setting appears to be a casual or artistic presentation or performance.

A woman sits on a chair reading a book, while others are sitting on the floor against the wall. There is a large projection of a woman's face on the wall, and a table with colorful objects on it is visible in the foreground.

A woman sits on a chair reading a book, while others are sitting on the floor against the wall. There is a large projection of a woman's face on the wall, and a table with colorful objects on it is visible in the foreground.

Three women are sitting or kneeling on the wooden floor of an art gallery or studio, surrounded by various art supplies and equipment. Two women are looking at the camera, while one woman is bending down to pick up something. Behind them, a projected

Three women are sitting or kneeling on the wooden floor of an art gallery or studio, surrounded by various art supplies and equipment. Two women are looking at the camera, while one woman is bending down to pick up something. Behind them, a projected image of a portrait is displayed on the white wall, and there is a large colorful digital collage of a face on the wall to the right.

A woman standing in front of a large screen with abstract black and white artwork, engaging with students who are kneeling or sitting on the wooden floor, some raising their hands, in a classroom or workshop setting.

A woman standing in front of a large screen with abstract black and white artwork, engaging with students who are kneeling or sitting on the wooden floor, some raising their hands, in a classroom or workshop setting.

People sitting and lying on the floor during a presentation or performance in a room with a large projection of a bee and abstract graphics on the wall.

People sitting and lying on the floor during a presentation or performance in a room with a large projection of a bee and abstract graphics on the wall.

Group of five people standing in front of a wall with projected images, clapping and smiling, during a presentation or workshop.

Group of five people standing in front of a wall with projected images, clapping and smiling, during a presentation or workshop.

An audience of diverse people seated and clapping in a gallery or conference room, with artwork on the walls and natural light coming through windows.

An audience of diverse people seated and clapping in a gallery or conference room, with artwork on the walls and natural light coming through windows.

A group of people gathered in an art gallery, some are standing and clapping, a few are taking photos, and one person is hugging another. The gallery walls display abstract artwork, and there is a person in front of a microphone stand. The mood appea

A group of people gathered in an art gallery, some are standing and clapping, a few are taking photos, and one person is hugging another. The gallery walls display abstract artwork, and there is a person in front of a microphone stand. The mood appears celebratory.

1. Opening Monologue v3
Marc Lafia Chad Raines
3. The Joans - A Band
Marc Lafia Chad Raines Leah Temple Lang
4.4 Patti Joan Hearst v2
Marc Lafia, Chad Raines, Leah Temple Lang
4.2 Joan Crawford
Marc Lafia Chad Raines Leah Temple Lang
8. Joan DiDion The Crack in the Ice
Marc Lafia Chad Raines Leah Temple Lang
11 Post UbuSet
marc Lafia Chad Raines Leah Temple Lang
20. Paul Returns as Hologram v2
Marc Lafia Chad Raines Leah Temple Lang
22. Narrator Trauma Matrix v2
Marc Lafia Chad Raines Leah Temple Lang
4.0 Biographical Joans v2
Marc Lafia Chad Raines Leah Temple Lang
2. Joans Prologue
Marc Lafia Chad Raines Leah Temple Lang
4.3 Joan Didion
Marc Lafia Chad Raines Leah Temple Lang
9. Joan of Arc v2 I Spoke with God
Marc Lafia Chad Raines Leah Temple Lang
15.Prof Paul Psycho Lecture Series v2
Marc Lafia Chad Raines Leah Temple Lang
5. Patti Hearst Student
Marc Lafia Chad Raines Leah Temple Lang
23. Land of Bliss v2
Marc Lafia Chad Raines Leah Temple Lang
4.1 Joan of Arc.m4a
Marc Lafia Chad Raines Leah Temple Lang
10. Whippet Narrator v2
Marc Lafia Chad Raines Leah Temple Lang
7. Joan Crawford v2 The Western, Look at the Backdrop
Marc Lafia Chad Raines Leah Temple Lang
11. Joan Vollmer UBU v2
Marc Lafia Chad Raines Leah Temple Lang
21. Barnard Girls in Desert v2
Marc Lafia Chad Raines Leah Temple Lang

About the Piece

J.O.A.N explores collective memory, algorithmic power, and the porous boundary between human identity and machinic myth. Set in a bunker during a time of systemic unraveling, the piece stages a seminar where students investigate the lives of iconic Joans—Joan of

Arc, Joan Didion, Joan Crawford, Joan Vollmer, Patty “Joan” Hearst —only to find that this constellation of historical figures forms a cipher for something more uncanny, more contemporary: a naming protocol for a distributed intelligence system—emotional, psychic, mythic, and technological. Gradually, the performance reveals itself to be the dream-state of an ambient intelligence—J.O.A.N—an acronym for Just One Adaptive Narrative, a speculative AI designed to metabolize cultural history into predictive myth. Through glitch aesthetics, synthetic voices, drag performance, and recursive dramaturgy, J.O.A.N asks: are we studying the algorithm, or is it studying us? Are we sheltering from collapse, or performing it?

As a student of media in the 1980s, I studied films, books, records— physical artifacts. But by the 1990s, working in Silicon Valley, I saw that all future cultural artifacts would become digital, shaped and eventually interpreted by machines. In making J.O.A.N., I found myself using ChatGPT extensively not just to think through these historical figures, but to think through myself—and somewhere in that recursive loop, I felt both captivated and overwhelmed, as if speaking into a mirror that reflects too many angles at once. What I came to realize is that what makes us human is our pain, our hurt, our failures—and thereby our reflexivity—because this teaches us, grounds us, and keeps us alive to each other. This piece is a reflection of that: a journey through seduction, darkness, and ultimately the quiet clarity that nothing—not even the most fluent machine—can substitute for the felt, wounded, breathing reality of being human.

ENSEMBLE

Leah Temple Lang, Joan

Marc Lafia, Professor Paul

Kendall Bottjer, Olivia Merola, Movement Performers

Andreea Mincic, Production Design

David Pym, Projection Design

Chad Raines, Sound Design, Music Composition

Marc Lafia, Writer, Director, Image Curator

Scenes for the evening

THE BUNKER

Opening Monologue: Hallucinating Oneself

Prologue: The Students… as The Joans… in the Bunker

Meet the Joans: A Band of Intellectuals

Biographies & Histories

Joan Vollmer

Joan Crawford

Joan Didion

Joan of Arc

Patty “Joan” Hearst

Performing the Joans

Joan Crawford: The Western, America’s Favorite Hallucination

Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold

Joan of Arc: A Body That Did Not Obey

Patty “Joan” Hearst: My Parents—Symbols of a Corrupt Capitalist System

Professor Paul: CHAT, Whippets of Ecstasy

Joan Vollmer (as Ubu): SIMPS AND SUBSCRIBERS: I AM THE NATION

2.

THE LIMINAL POINT

Professor Paul: The Pedagogy of Ooze and the Whippets AI Membrane

The Board of Trustees: The End of The Liberal Experiment

The Server Farm: A Sprawl of Robots

Joan the Esoteric Baptist: Arhiman wants a Body

The Apparition of the Self: I was a Proxy

Paul Returns: A Hologram as Palmer Eldritch

The Wandering Womb: The Floating Uterus Cloud

The Joans: Through the Trauma Matrix

3.

THE WESTERN LANDS

Land of Bliss

Western Lands / Inner Lands

The Wound Is the Map

Death and AI

Devouring the Narrator