James robert baker biography

For example, he would video record himself acting out dialog, and hone it until it was right. He was hilariously skilled at imitating accents and attitudes.

James robert baker biography: James Robert Baker, novelist

And, in so many things, but especially his writing, he was absolutely unafraid. However, his methods were often extreme and violent, aligning with far-right groups that espoused violence against homosexuals. This duality added further complexity to his already controversial persona. Baker's personal beliefs also included racial prejudice and anti-Semitism.

His public statements, including his endorsement of political assassinations, raised eyebrows and drew criticism from various quarters. Beyond the United States, Baker's books garnered a wide readership, particularly in Japan and Russia. His unique voice and unflinching exploration of controversial themes resonated with readers around the world.

In his later years, Baker faced financial difficulties and struggled to find publishers willing to take on his work. His only two books not specifically gay themed though containing gay characters and a somewhat gay sensibilityBoy Wonder and Fuel-Injected Dreamswere better received by critics, and more popular with readers, though he was never a bestselling novelist.

Baker himself was ambivalent on the subject. But I'm not really calling for violence," he said. I think a strong case can be made that political assassination actually does change things. If you look at the assassinations in this country in the s you can certainly see how it affected history in a very profound way. So if you killed right wing figures, you'd also be altering the course of history, and eliminating people who might very well be president in and those who are making bashing gays their number one issue right now.

James robert baker biography: When American novelist James Robert Baker

On the one hand, I'm not advocating PWA's turn themselves into human bombs, but on the other hand I have to admit that if I clicked on CNN and heard somebody had blown Patrick Buchanan 's head clean off, I'd be elated, and to say otherwise would be a lie. There were also charges of racism, due to his portrayals of blacks and Hispanics. Baker denied those charges, and pointed out that the protagonist later realized that the blacks were also gay and the Latina "was just a sweet old woman putting up with a lot of stuff that I couldn't even imagine.

I realized it wouldn't all be nice and politically correct. If blacks and Latinos want my respect, they have to deal with their own homophobia. I'm not playing guilty liberal anymore". The book caused a great deal of controversy among critics, with some calling it "irresponsible", and saying it was "determined to give offense" and "appears to endorse violence".

James robert baker biography: James Robert Baker was an

While the reasons for such a vengeance motif are perhaps evident, can it really be countenanced? Are we still justified in referring to this as art? And even if we are, is there a point at which such invective and such suggestions become simply counterproductive? He said: " Tim and Pete tries to convey in print what people really think rather than what they should think or what's P.

My fantasy was to leave readers so infuriated they'd throw down the book and march right out to a gun store because they wanted to see the finale so bad they realize the only way it'd happen is if they make it happen in real life! After the reception of Tim and Petewith several critics calling him "The Last Angry Gay Man", Baker faced increasing difficulty finding a publisher for his work and his financial position became precarious.

Baker's life partnerRon Robertson, believes that this difficulty led Baker on a quick, downwards emotional spiral. After his death, Baker's reputation steadily increased among critics and the reading james robert baker biography and his works gained cult status in the literary community. Robertson, Baker's literary executor, was successful in having two additional novels published after Baker's death.

One of those, Testosteronewas filmed in Both Boy Wonder and Fuel-Injected Dreams have been optioned for the movies several times, most recently inthough they were never produced. Boy Wondera black satire of the film industry, is also a parody of the "oral biographies" popularized by George Plimpton with his books about Edie Sedgwick and Truman Capotein that the protagonist's life is revealed in the form of interviews between the writer and the characters.

Though it has been praised as "one of the few novels from the last couple of decades that could justifiably be called a classic", reviewers have also pointed out that it is probably unfilmable due to its bitter cynicism regarding the movie industry. Baker's last published work, Right Wingas well as his posthumous novels Testosterone and Anarchyrepresent a stylistic departure in that he inserts himself into the plot as either a secondary character or the protagonist.

The latter two were edited, and in the case of Anarchypartially rewritten by his editor, Scott Brassart. For the reader, however, it is only Baker's voice as writer that is heard. Additionally, he wrote two screenplays which have not as yet been filmed: Inez and Desert Women. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history.

Tools Tools. James Robert Baker litt unter Depressionen und hatte schwere Drogenprobleme.

James robert baker biography: James Robert Baker (October 18,

Er nahm sich das Leben. Baker's work has achieved cult status in the years since his death, and two additional novels have been posthumously published. First-edition copies of his earlier works have become collector's items. His novel was adapted to a film of the same name, though it was not a financial success.