The first in a planned trilogy of videos I made with S. Adrian Massey III exploring the idea of Richard Simmons as a contemporary American shaman.

Double Sweat: Fever
Invocation of Richard Simmons as Two-Spirit Shaman
Samuel Cormier & S. Adrian Massey, III
Digital Video 4 min 20 sec

Utilizing the methodology of Andrew Neumann’s “Double Psycho”, Double Sweat explores the historical role of healer that Richard Simmons plays in modern society.

We emphasize this tribal context by applying cut-up techniques between two of his videos. This effect attempts to induce trance-like states similar to Bryan Gysin’s dream machines.

In this setting, Simmons’ ambiguous sexual identity becomes analogous to that of two-spirit shamans; reframing his workout program as a ritualistic ceremony.