American Book Awards
1 appearances
-
Edition 42 (2021) Winner
John Giorno
ジョン・ジョルノ
John Giorno
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1936-12-04 （New York City, U.S.）
- Died
- 2019-10-11 （New York City, U.S.） age 82
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Religion
- Tibetan Buddhism (Nyingma)
- Residence History
- Brooklyn, New York City → Roslyn Heights, Long Island → Bowery / Lower East Side, New York City → Lower Manhattan (final residence), New York City
Career
- Occupations
- Poet, Performance artist, Producer (Giorno Poetry Systems)
- Active Years
- 1958-2019
- Influenced By
- Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, William S. Burroughs, Brion Gysin
- Influenced
- Patti Smith, Laurie Anderson, Generation of performance poets / performance artists, The Poetry Slam movement
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia University | — | — | — | 1954–1958 | United States |
Columbia University
Period:
1954–1958
Year of Graduation:
1958
Country:
United States
Was a resident of Livingston Hall while at Columbia.
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
The American Book of the Dead (selected pieces)
1964 Avant-garde poetry, experimental poetryAn early experimental work that applied Pop Art techniques to poetry, notable for appropriation of found texts and montage.
Urban lifeAppropriation of languageRepetition
Poems
1967 Poetry collectionCollection of early poems, including portions of The American Book of the Dead.
Experimental poetryVoice and texture
Balling Buddha
1970 Poetry collectionContains signature double-column poems using repetition; includes political and social themes.
Religious motifsPolitical contentRepetition
Cancer In My Left Ball
1972 Poetry collectionA collection reflecting an interpenetration of Buddhist themes and Western avant-garde practices.
Tibetan BuddhismPhysicalityReligion and poetry
Subduing Demons in America: Selected Poems 1962–2007
2008 Selected poems / Collected worksA career-spanning selection of poems from 1962–2007, edited by Marcus Boon.
Avant-garde poetryPersonal historyPolitical and religious themes
Who Are You Staring At? (album)
1982 Audio work / AlbumAn album made with Glenn Branca combining poetic performance and music.
Sound poetryExperimental music
Bibliography
- Poems (1967)
- The American Book of the Dead (1964, fragments)
- Balling Buddha (1970)
- Cancer In My Left Ball (1972)
- Subduing Demons in America: Selected Poems 1962–2007 (2008)
- Who Are You Staring At? (album, 1982)
Adaptations
- Sleep (film by Andy Warhol, 1964) — appearance
- Poetry in Motion (film by Ron Mann, 1982) — appearance
- R.E.M. music video 'We All Go Back to Where We Belong' (2011) — appearance
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Double-column poemsRepetition and incantatory phrasingCut-up and montage techniquesSound poetry
- Recurring Motifs
- Urban life and nightlifeQueer sexual identityBuddhist / Asian religious influencesPolitical protest
Health
-
Heart attack (cause of death)2019-10-11Died of a heart attack at home on October 11, 2019; ended artistic activity.
Legacy
John Giorno is regarded as an experimental poet and performer who pushed poetry beyond the printed page. Through Dial-A-Poem and Giorno Poetry Systems he connected technology and poetry and influenced avant-garde art and performance poetry.
Museums
- Pérez Art Museum Miami Miami, Florida, United States Opened in 2013
Archives
- Sackner Archive (collection of language and visual poetry; Giorno works included)
- John Giorno Foundation archives
In Popular Culture
- Appearance in Andy Warhol's film 'Sleep' (1964)
- Appearance in R.E.M. music video (2011)
- Influence on poetry and performance art (impact on Poetry Slam and sound poetry)
Trivia
- Appeared sleeping for over five hours in Andy Warhol's film 'Sleep'.
- Founded Giorno Poetry Systems in 1965 and organized experimental projects such as Dial-A-Poem.
- Founded the AIDS Treatment Project in 1984 to support people affected by AIDS.
- Was married to Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone at the time of his death.