Kicking the Pricks

2010
Author:

Derek Jarman

The shockingly honest journals of the acclaimed filmmaker and gay rights activist

The clarity with which Derek Jarman offered up his life and the living of it, particularly since the epiphany—I can call it nothing less—of his illness was a genius stroke, not only of provocation, but of grace.

Tilda Swinton

One of England’s foremost filmmakers, Derek Jarman (1942–1994) wrote and directed many feature films, including Sebastiane, Jubilee, Caravaggio, and Blue, as well as numerous short films and music videos. He was a stage designer, artist, writer, gardener, and an outspoken AIDS and queer rights activist in the UK and the United States. His books include At Your Own Risk, Chroma, Modern Nature, and Smiling in Slow Motion, all available from the University of Minnesota Press.

The most engrossing book I’ve read in an age. . . . It offers a back-room view of Jarman’s career as well as his musings on art and film. . . . Jarman is the sort of troublemaking visionary who one day may be compared with Blake.

Time Out London

Moving, poetic, inspirational.

New Musical Express

The rich, raw, kaleidoscopic finale of a personal and artistic statement.

Kirkus

The most engrossing book I’ve read in an age. . . . It offers a backroom view of Jarman’s career as well as his musings on art and film. . . . Jarman is the sort of troublemaking visionary who one day may be compared with Blake.

Library Journal

Derek Jarman was a genius who, like the gay artists he admired, not only lived dangerously (that being queer) but created dangerous art. In this time when artistic cowardice (that being marketability) reigns, one would do well to read Kicking the Pricks.

Lambda Book Report

The clarity with which Derek Jarman offered up his life and the living of it, particularly since the epiphany—I can call it nothing less—of his illness was a genius stroke, not only of provocation, but of grace.

Tilda Swinton

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