William S. Burroughs Playlist

Known for his stream-of-consciousness writing style and obsession with spontaneity, William S. Burroughs had no time for straight lines or predictable ways of thinking. His pioneering ‘cut up’ and ‘fold in’ techniques – which saw him chopping up his writing and piecing it back together in random order, and which made Naked Lunch (1958) such a head-twister of a novel – fundamentally changed literature by challenging the idea that stories should unfold chronologically. In these three clips, the elder statesman of the Beat movement reveals his unique perspectives on youth, dreams and Jack Kerouac.

Advice for Young People
Never afraid to be the outspoken fountain of knowledge, Burroughs offers some valuable pearls of wisdom to youth everywhere, including: “Beware of whores who say they don’t want money” and “Avoid fuck-ups.” Well, now you know: don’t go and make a fool of yourself.
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Dreams
Burroughs was an enthusiastic explorer of alternate states of consciousness and his interest in psychology inspired a fascination with dreams. In this recording he talks about his experiences of lucid dreaming and his attempts to take back control of his unconscious mind.
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Burroughs on Kerouac
In this interview conducted by Allen Ginsburg, Burroughs shares his feelings towards Jack Kerouac and reflects on the phenomenal influence of the Beat movement around the world. Burroughs credits Kerouac with starting an unprecedented cultural revolution, something Kerouac himself never acknowledged.
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To read about William S. Burroughs’ experimental photography grab yourself a copy of Huck 43 – Street Photography with Boogie.

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