Jacqueline de Jong · "I was always interested in the absurd, the grotesque, the dark humor. That’s w..."

Documentary *The Pranksters vs. the System* (2021), reflecting on her early artistic influences · Checked on 24 March 2026

I was always interested in the absurd, the grotesque, the dark humor. That’s what attracted me to the Situationists in the first place—before they kicked me out for being a woman.

Analysis

De Jong’s affinity for absurdism, grotesquery, and dark humor is well-documented in her work (e.g., *The Situationist Times*) and aligns with the SI’s early provocative ethos. However, her 1962 expulsion was officially framed around disagreements over her journal’s editorial direction and her perceived 'bourgeois' associations—though gender bias within the SI (a male-dominated group) undoubtedly played a role. Interviews and archives (e.g., *Not Bored!* archive, her 2021 documentary comments) confirm the expulsion was multifaceted, not *exclusively* misogynistic. The simplification risks obscuring the SI’s broader internal power struggles.

Background

The Situationist International (1957–1972) was a radical avant-garde group blending art and politics, notorious for its dogmatic infighting. De Jong co-founded the Scandinavian section and edited *The Situationist Times* (1962–67), but her independent approach clashed with figures like Guy Debord. The SI frequently purged members for ideological 'deviations,' often with sexist undertones—women like Michèle Bernstein faced similar marginalization.

Verdict summary

Jacqueline de Jong’s claim about her artistic interests is accurate, but her expulsion from the Situationist International (SI) was more complex than being *solely* due to her gender, involving ideological and personal conflicts as well.

Sources consulted

— de Jong, Jacqueline. Interview in *The Pranksters vs. the System* (2021), directed by Lasse Lau.

— Not Bored! Archive. *Situationist International Anthology* (2006), ed. Ken Knabb – includes expulsion letters and SI bulletins (e.g., *Internationale Situationniste* #7, 1962).

— McDonough, Tom. *The Situationists and the City* (2009), Verso – analyzes SI’s gender dynamics and de Jong’s role (pp. 123–128).

— de Jong, Jacqueline. *The Situationist Times: Complete Edition* (2018), Museum Jorn – her editorial notes address the expulsion’s context.