J. G. Ballard: 1930-2009
The Independent UK’s obituary of J. G. Ballard questions how much the 21st century will be “Ballardian,” whether humans can overcome the violent natures so memorably and disturbingly drawn by the author, or if we are doomed according to the prophecy of his last novel, 2006’s Kingdom Come:
“The human race sleepwalked to oblivion, thinking only about the corporate logos on its shroud.”
Ballard’s dystopian novels and short stories portray a mechanized world in which technology provides both a civilized mask and a tool for mankind’s basest instincts. His work has been cited as a major influence on cyberpunk writers and like-minded musicians from Joy Division to Radiohead.
While one publisher described the author as “beyond psychiatric help” in a rejection of his controversial 1973 novel Crash, Ballard’s best work challenges readers to confront the implications of mass consumerism, ecological destruction, and the human urge for violence.
Ballard’s most popular work was probably the autobiographical Empire of the Sun, which draws on his experiences as a child in a World War II Japanese prison camp in China. In this fascinating interview with Terry Gross on NPR’s Fresh Air, Ballard notes the differences between his novel and the Steven Spielberg film version, and he describes how his later experiences in a British boarding school were not dissimilar to his life as a prisoner of war.
Ballard’s official website features a number of interviews and essays about his work, and the Ballardian site is a terrific resource for fans with a large collection of memorial links.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment