Chicago Reader

Thursday, August 27, 2009

William S. Burroughs: The man, the movie, the party

Posted by Whet Moser on Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 8:30 PM

But first, something fantastic:

Jean Genet, William S. Burroughs, Terry Southern, John Sack

Also notable, William S. Burroughs quoted in Ed Koziarski's just-posted story:

"There is something about Chicago that paralyzes the spirit under a dead weight of a formalism dictated by hoodlums, a hierarchy of decorticated wops . . . And everywhere the smell of atrophied gangsters, the dead weight of those dear dead days hanging in the air like rancid ectoplasm . . . You suffocate in the immediate past, still palpable, quivering like an earthbound ghost . . . Here the dream is suffocating, more real than the real, the past actually, incredibly, invading the present."

"A formalism dictated by hoodlums" made my week.

All this is in regards to the 50th-Anniversary Celebration of William S. Burroughs's The Naked Lunch, which is detailed in the article, and Jonathan "Yony" Leyser's documentary about the writer:

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www.cimmfest.com check out the event tonight..

Posted by readwriteright? on August 27, 2009 at 8:59 PM | Report this comment

Friday August 28th... Burroughs friends are coming to town for Chicago's celebration of The Naked Lunch. (also a fundraiser for the film)
Performers will include
Peter Weller who played Burroughs in Naked Lunch (and was Robocop)
Penny Arcade, Performance artist and Warhol superstar
John Giorno, poet
Hal Willner (musical director of Saturday Night Live, and recorded Burroughs' albums)
Anne Waldman Poet
Tony Trigilio, Beat Scholar
and more!!

Burroughs' rare paintings will be on display (and for sale)

And there will be a screening of the documentary trailer..

There will also be an open bar and food.

Its at ThinkArt Salon in Wicker Park 1530 N. Paulina Ave, Chicago, IL
It's $60 online at cimmfest. org
$60-$75 at door.
This includes an afterparty at 1371 N. Milwaukee Featuring Penny Arcade, David Daniell & Douglas McCombs, and DJs

After-party only $10 suggested donation

More info at www.burroughsthemovie.com click on fundraiser
or www.cimmfest.org

Posted by readwriteright? on August 27, 2009 at 9:10 PM | Report this comment

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