Henry Miller
“He's the kind of Stud who really probes the void of existence unlike others who simply sit on the rim”
Henry "Valentine's Day Massacre" Miller (December 26, 1888 – June 7, 1980), was an American writer and painter. He is known for breaking with existing literary forms and developing a new sort of "novel" that was "sort of a novel, sort of something else." Critics have described his contributions to literature as "as much fun as pulling teeth."
Biography[edit | edit source]
Henry Miller was a key writer born in America 1888; his childhood was generally happy in a part of 'Up and Coming' Brooklyn. In his desire to be noticed Miller began a part-time job as a pimp mostly pimping lady boys though, which garnered him the reputation of a complete bottom feeder, the frequent slurs against him however seem to only increase his fame and libido.
He had a long list of sexual partners, almost enough to rival Oscar Wilde however he found himself unable to switch between genders like Wilde so the shag tally is always disappointing for Miller. He eventfully married a foxy Asian chick and wrote cruel things of her and she moved to Tropic of Cancer to get away from the "tha yank with nasty bitch pen".
Henry Miller also like 87% of Male Authors in the 20th Century, enjoyed a long sexual relationship with Anaïs Nin, however this did not work out as she turned to Women after her experiences with Miller.
Henry Miller was renowned for always seeking his next opportunity and Miller moved on from America to a life in Scotland where he began some of his key works such as Hot Topic in the Tropics a seminal piece outlining how the Asian market was ripe for EMOs.
His next move was in music where Millers, At the Ball and Sauna Nights proved regular favourites with the Ibiza club scene. Miller then moved into producing albums, notably for ABBA and Holly Valance; these attempts at producing proved futile with success in anything still eluding Miller. In 1983 Tony Visconti produced an ageing Miller to sing and co produce his album Sexus in the Nexus; “it’ll be just like James Blunt” Tony Visconti told interviewers, however the album was banned in its key demographic of Saudi Arabia.
As a film producer and actor he also excelled in mediocrity, unable to ever be regarded as a ‘classic artist’ outside of the Guardian or being on Oscar Wilde's tip top favourites of the month for a short while. It is this inability to really be the artist that gave him a distinctly ‘80s’ feel and he continues to be on the short list for trashy classics for the ill educated every year.
As his life progressed Miller married some of his best hookers and gradually his career slowed down right until he contracted Death, and it remains to be seen whether he will make a comeback.
Work[edit | edit source]
Most of Henry's works have been banned for being long self indulgent in the extreme and most importantly pretentious nonsense from a man who could barely write, though he has always maintained his freakish technique is simply a case of Auto-spastic Writing. His novels have a revolutionary style whereby a whole work is mostly composed of scraps about the People made up or actually met and are so thinly edited that there's is no discernible plot or conclusion (it's supposed to be 'arty').
Miller's style tends to be Postmodern or more commonly 'stolen'. Notable Postmodern flourishes include borrowing from Dostoyevsky; Miller also "borrows" many motifs from Baywatch scripts which Miller studied throughout his writing career. Miller also attempted to Paint, and renowned scholars maintain that Miller did both painting and writing simultaneously and this explains the peculiar "even more crap" quality of his later works.
Miller was also well known for writing about people he knew personally. Many find this charming, particularly the way he distorts the people around him including nymphos and neurotics, as well the way Miller paints himself as a wise and pleasant figure who discussed his friends issues though novels to the general public.
His short stay with the people at Shelter has prompted many critics to question Millers views on homeless people and his works were banned in the Bible Belt of America and amongst the conformist Swiss/Germo/six pack countries. The nice people at Shelter have made their position clear- they no longer want to talk to him after the 'nasty, bitter and untrue things' he wrote of them.
List of Works[edit | edit source]
Books[edit | edit source]
- Having Prostate Cancer in the Tropics
- Hookers R' us: the real story behind Enron
- A happy Proletariat
- A Capricorn living in the Tropics
- 10 ways to combat sex addiction
- Hot Topic in the Tropics
- The Colossus of Millers Prick
- Fanny's: A beginners Guide
Film[edit | edit source]
- Henry and June: a two-hour film staring Uma Thurman, it feels like a four-hour film
- Reds: a Cameo role for Miller, walking about, blatant winks at the camera man
Music[edit | edit source]
- Sexus in the Nexus: A dance/folk/hip hop album, all music rates it as two stars
- Sexus Remixed by ELP: see above
The doctrine of Millerism[edit | edit source]
This movement was founded late in Millers life after hippies desired to emulate him. It basically works on the premise that living as a complete sponge, and pursuing a first class education are the goals of life. Sneering at others and not giving a f**k, also heavy drug use is also contained within the doctrine. Most Millerists are continually stoned and/or pissed.
We may also see the collection of various female/male sexual partners who are attracted to their repulsive sponging natures. One is often faced with the question of why they get so much action. Theorists such as Oscar Wilde posit the claim that the reason is the fashion sense, or that they're just always “around”, giving opportunity a chance.
The principles of Millersm are a bit like Fight Club, about being human effluence, however Millerism also preaches inertia rather than beating people up, earning the doctrine strong support on the left of the political scene and the right of the indie music scene.
Current[edit | edit source]
Currently Miller is dead, but it is to be hoped that better hospital facilities can upgrade his condition, a number of rumours abound as to Millers next career move; many speculate a move into the Music Industry again or to try to write a proper novel rather than publish lewd commentaries from his own sordid personal life, "really give something back" is what his long suffering wife hopes.
Influence[edit | edit source]
- David Lynch frequently makes make reference to Henry Miller teaching him "Transcendental Meditation", which apparently have helped Lynch recover from a series of mental issues, as can be seen from Lynch's distinctive change in style with the charming 2007 family film Inland Empire
- Max Cady, the chief spokesman of the Conservatives has frequently gone on the record as saying that Millers works have influenced him, "I can out Philosophize you because I read Henry Miller, he tells me stuff and helps me learn"; Miller has also been seen to support various conservative rallies allegedly finding bohemianism compatible with hard line right wing policies.
- Every one of those shitty arty euro cheese eating surrender monkey movies is based on one of Miller's books, especially those sloppily edited ones or the low quality Jean-Luc Godard films shot on crap 8mm film. It'll be "arty like Henry Miller" Jean Luc claims.
- When you think about having a vagina you're raising the Jungian archetype of Millers sexual fantasies.
- In episode one of the second series of Peep Show (TV series), Gwyn says to the group, "...I came down, all alone, just me and a candle...and an old, old copy of Henry Miller...and I just had the most amazing wank...”
Further reading[edit | edit source]
- How to Plagiarize, Fourth Edition, Gene Wilder, 1994, Penguin publishing
- The True Story behind Tom Cruise, Ricky Gervais, 1985, Hardbastard Publishing