BEYOND THE DUPLEX PLANET

description

Artist David Greenberger's conversations with seniors in the '70s became the cult 'zine The Duplex Planet. Now a senior himself, he shares insights on art, conversation, and aging.

In 1979, David Greenberger, a recent art school grad became activities director at a Boston nursing home. David began interviewing the residents, rejecting pat questions with the unexpected: "Which do you prefer – coffee or meat?," “What is embarrassment?,” and “How close can you get to a penguin?” The result was The Duplex Planet, an early ‘zine characterized by humor, warmth and sincerity. Today David’s work takes the form of spoken word shows and recordings. BEYOND THE DUPLEX PLANET explores notions of aging and its intersection with art and community. It’s also a slightly ironic look at the life of an artist devoted to documenting the elderly who is himself in his senior years.

OFFICIAL SELECTION
SXSW 2026

DIRECTOR'S BIO
Beth Harrington is an Emmy-winning, Grammy-nominated independent producer, director and writer, born in Boston and transplanted to the Pacific Northwest. Harrington’s independent production WELCOME TO THE CLUB – THE WOMEN OF ROCKABILLY, was honored with a 2003 Grammy nomination. She’s been a singer and sometimes guitarist, most noted for her years as a member of Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers. Her film THE WINDING STREAM – THE CARTERS, THE CASHES AND THE COURSE OF COUNTRY MUSIC (2015) premiered at SXSW. Her latest projects include BEYOND THE DUPLEX PLANET and OUR MR. MATSURA, both on the 2026 festival circuit.