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Rumpus Book ClubKenneth Anger’s Anger
Kennether Anger, the director of art film classics Scorpio Rising, Invocation Of My Demon Brother, and Lucifer Rising, responds to my review of Zachary Lazar’s fine novel, Sway. He’s not happy.
Sway is a fictional recreation of the late 60s with the characters of Brian Jones 
(The Rolling Stones), Bobby Beausoleil (The Manson Murders), and Kenneth Anger as fictionalized versions of their real selves. The book is in some ways unique in making the celebrities the actual protagonists as opposed to window dressing ala Forest Gump.
Read my original review in the LA Weekly here. And here’s Kenneth’s response, (click the image for the larger size) which arrived with a flyer for “An Evening With Kenneth Anger: Dangerous Cinema” presented by REDCAT at the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater.
What’s dissapointing in his response, but also common, is that he reduces the novelist’s work to a “pack of lies, using my name to grab attention.” In fact, Lazar (who I don’t know) probably spent years on this well thought out book and I imagine he sold only a few thousand copies. That’s the life of the literary novelist. Kenneth Anger, who would spend years on challenging films only twenty minutes long, should understand that.
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See Also: Fade To Orange, Michelle Orange’s Random Film Links
See Also: The Failed Shorty Q&A With Susannah Breslin
See Also: Jerry Stahl, Post-Young
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:55 am
I think I’d actually be quite honoured to receive a telling off by Kenneth Anger. I mean the man is an icon. But seriously he’s been so influential and yet made so little money out of his talents that I guess anyone would be a bit bitter about being used as an objet trouve in someone’s book even if it is as good as you say. I actually saw an updated version of Hollywood Babylon the other day written by two people none of whom were called Kenneth Anger (!) They could have called it anything else without having to bathe in Kenneth’s glory but there you are some people have no shame. Great site by the way
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:26 am
Thanks!
March 16th, 2009 at 8:38 am
I’m actually disappointed in you, Mr. Elliott. Everything you read in Lazar’s excellent novel should have prepared you for the absolutely splendid response you’ve received from Mr. Anger. Why should everyone react with pleasant and calm reason to every damned book and review? After all, he is actually Kenneth Anger in his real actual skin and clothes. Why shouldn’t he read a book about himself as a fictional character and get all hot and irritable. If I’d received that yellow piece of paper from Anger, I’d be calling him up to invite him over for dinner.
I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Sway,’ but I enjoy Kenneth Anger more.
March 16th, 2009 at 8:57 am
Kenneth Anger is invited over for dinner anytime. I’m framing his letter and honored that he would write to me.
March 16th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Very cool. I’m not really that disappointed in you. I just like being a little dramatic. I’m a fan of anyone who writes anything at all about Kenneth Anger. I look forward to your next post.