I don’t know where to begin with explaining how much the writings and ideas of James (JG) Ballard have meant to and influenced me. Probably more than any other single person. I have all of his books and have probably read about half. I’ve liked to spread them out and probably will still do so. I am forever indebted to Texan artist/filmmaker/photographer Denise Prince for introducing me to his writing via the Re/Search book themed around him back around 1988. That book opened many doors and introduced me to many people and ideas that still hold an influence. It only occurs to me now that the book led me to seeking out Paul Mavrides, who graciously invited me over and showed me his black velvet paintings of JFK at Dealy Plaza and other works. Trying to absorb it all. I guess we knew it was coming. Unlike the fairly recent passings of John Peel and Douglas Adams, which also shook me deeply. His recent memoirs book meant alot to me and I admired his strength in being a single father to three kids. I dedicated our set tonight to JGB… not sure if anyone caught the reference… but it was a bookstore/bar… so maybe. Mr. Simon Sellars, who curates the excellent Ballardian.com, managed to be a bit more articulate on the subject. This passage really stood out to me. More later when I’m a bit more settled back home.
Ballard articulates clearly to me the implications of living in an age of total consumerism, of blanket surveillance, of enslavement designed as mass entertainment. But he also speaks to me of resistance through irony, immersion, ambivalence, imagination — of remixing, recycling, remaking, remodelling.
