First published 2019
In this previously unpublished 1992 conversation with Sandro Moiso, J.G. Ballard examines the cultural forces reshaping modern life. The British author addresses science fiction's transformation, surrealist art's impact on literature, and how mass media has altered human consciousness. Ballard connects seemingly disparate elements: Arnold Schwarzenegger's screen presence, automobile accidents as cultural symbols, emerging virtual technologies, and America's Vietnam experience. He discusses Steven Spielberg's cinematic influence and William Burroughs' literary innovations while mapping what he sees as our collective psychological terrain. The interview captures Ballard's analytical approach to contemporary society, revealing his methods for understanding technological change and cultural shift. Simon Reynolds provides commentary on selected passages, connecting Ballard's observations to broader artistic and philosophical movements. Reynolds weaves together references spanning underground music scenes, Hollywood productions, classic literature, and modern critical theory, creating connections between figures like Mark Fisher and Arthur Conan Doyle's detective.
Genres: art, literary-criticism, 20th-century, 21st-century, academic, cultural-studies
Vibes: dark, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: analytical-approach
Setting: America, Britain, Vietnam
Period: 1992
224 pages · Paperback · Krisis Publishing