jcvoogt5s: William S. Burroughs’ “The Thanksgiving Prayer,” Shot by Gus Van Sant

William S. Burroughs’ “The Thanksgiving Prayer,” Shot by Gus Van Sant:

“Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, 1986” first appeared in print in Tornado Alley, a chapbook published by William S. Burroughs in 1989. Two years later, Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, My Own Private Idaho, Milk) shot a montage that brought the poem to film, making it at least the second time the director adapted the beat writer to film.

If you’ve seen Burroughs use Shakepseare’s face for target practice, or if you’ve watched The Junky’s Christmas, you’ll know that he wasn’t kind to convention or tradition. And there are no prisoners taken here, as you’ll see above. This clip will be added to our Cultural Icons collection. Now time for a little Thanksgiving dinner….

h/t BoingBoing

William S. Burroughs Reads His First Novel, Junky

William S. Burroughs’ “The Thanksgiving Prayer,” Shot by Gus Van Sant is a post from: Open Culture. Visit us at openculture.com, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.