James Broughton
James Broughton (November 10, 1913 - May 17, 1999) was a pioneer of experimental filmmaking, a central player in California's creative literary scene, a bard of sensuality and spirituality, an invigorated gay elder, and a preacher of Big Joy. His life's work was an attempt to discover the contradictory nature of his humanity and its roots; the result was a poetic and artistic life that inspired many. Broughton's advice to filmmakers: Follow your own weird.
Broughton was part of the San Francisco Renaissance. He was an early bard of the Radical Faeries as well as a charter member of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence serving her community as Sister Sermonetta. His life story is told in the forthcoming feature-length documentary, "Big Joy: The Adventures of James Broughton," set to be released in 2013-2014.
“Trusting your individual uniqueness challenges you to lay yourself open.”
“If you don't fill your days with love, you are wasting your life.”
“Everything is Song. Everything is Silence. Since it all turns out to be illusion, perfectly being what it is, having nothing to do with good or bad, you are free to die laughing.”
“It was as important to live poetically as to write poems.”