Michael Turner (musician)
Encyclopedia
For other people named Michael Turner, see Michael Turner
.
Michael Turner (born 1962 in Vancouver, British Columbia
) is a musician
, and writer of poetry, prose and opera librettos.
Turner's work is often an examination of the entrenched and the seemingly ordinary; he often explores in great detail objects and concepts which are usually valued as means to an end, rather than ends, in themselves, as he does in Company Town (1991) and Kingsway (1995). Turner often varies his style and employs rich multi-format and intertextual approaches in his works, such as American Whiskey Bar (1997), and The Pornographer's Poem (1999).
Turner's work was adapted to radio, stage, television and feature film, and he has been translated into French, Russian, and Korean. He won the Genie Award in 1996 for Music/Original Song, the 2000 Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize
and was also a finalist for the 1992 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize
.
Turner collaborated with artist Stan Douglas
on two experimental-video screenplays, titled Journey Into Fear (Istanbul Biennial, 2001) and Suspiria (Documenta
XI, 2002) and on a screenplay with filmmaker Bruce LaBruce, titled Untitled Von Gloeden Project, based on the life and work of photographer Wilhelm Von Gloeden. He was commissioned to write a libretto for the Modern Baroque Opera Company, based on Wilhelm Busch's Max & Moritz.
In the late 1980s, he was in a band called Hard Rock Miners
.
In 1996, Bruce McDonald directed a film based on Hard Core Logo
; he also directed a live telecast dramatizing Turner's novel American Whiskey Bar in 1998, which Citytv
produced and aired. In 2005, a film based on The Pornographer's Poem was announced.
Turner lives in Vancouver, writes art essays and edits Advance Editions, a literary/visual art imprint he founded with Arsenal Pulp Press
in 1998. He recently began writing a new book.
Michael Turner
Michael Turner may refer to:*Michael Turner , American Football running back for the Atlanta Falcons*Michael Turner , Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club...
.
Michael Turner (born 1962 in Vancouver, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
) is a musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, and writer of poetry, prose and opera librettos.
Turner's work is often an examination of the entrenched and the seemingly ordinary; he often explores in great detail objects and concepts which are usually valued as means to an end, rather than ends, in themselves, as he does in Company Town (1991) and Kingsway (1995). Turner often varies his style and employs rich multi-format and intertextual approaches in his works, such as American Whiskey Bar (1997), and The Pornographer's Poem (1999).
Turner's work was adapted to radio, stage, television and feature film, and he has been translated into French, Russian, and Korean. He won the Genie Award in 1996 for Music/Original Song, the 2000 Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize
Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize
The Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, established in 1985 as one of the BC Book Prizes, is awarded annually to the best work of fiction by a resident of British Columbia, Canada....
and was also a finalist for the 1992 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize
Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize
The Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize, established in 1986, is awarded annually to the best collection of poetry by a resident of British Columbia, Canada.One of the B.C. Book Prizes, the award was originally known as the B.C. Prize for Poetry...
.
Turner collaborated with artist Stan Douglas
Stan Douglas
Stan Douglas is an artist based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He has exhibited internationally, including Documenta IX, 1992, Documenta X, 1997, Documenta XI, 2002 and the Venice Biennale in 1990, 2001 and 2005...
on two experimental-video screenplays, titled Journey Into Fear (Istanbul Biennial, 2001) and Suspiria (Documenta
Documenta
documenta is an exhibition of modern and contemporary art which takes place every five years in Kassel, Germany. It was founded by artist, teacher and curator Arnold Bode in 1955 as part of the Bundesgartenschau which took place in Kassel at that time...
XI, 2002) and on a screenplay with filmmaker Bruce LaBruce, titled Untitled Von Gloeden Project, based on the life and work of photographer Wilhelm Von Gloeden. He was commissioned to write a libretto for the Modern Baroque Opera Company, based on Wilhelm Busch's Max & Moritz.
In the late 1980s, he was in a band called Hard Rock Miners
Hard Rock Miners
Hard Rock Miners are a Canadian rockabilly/hillbilly/country/folk band based in Vancouver, British Columbia.In 1987, the Hard Rock Miners could be found busking on the streets of Vancouver, particularly on the very trendy Robson Street. Their music could be best described as eclectic...
.
In 1996, Bruce McDonald directed a film based on Hard Core Logo
Hard Core Logo
Hard Core Logo is a 1996 Canadian mockumentary adapted by Noel Baker from the novel of the same name by author Michael Turner. Director Bruce McDonald illustrates the self-destruction of punk rock...
; he also directed a live telecast dramatizing Turner's novel American Whiskey Bar in 1998, which Citytv
Citytv
Citytv is a Canadian English language television system owned and operated by Rogers Communications under its Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. division...
produced and aired. In 2005, a film based on The Pornographer's Poem was announced.
Turner lives in Vancouver, writes art essays and edits Advance Editions, a literary/visual art imprint he founded with Arsenal Pulp Press
Arsenal Pulp Press
Arsenal Pulp Press is a Canadian independent book publishing company, based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The company publishes a broad range of titles in both fiction and non-fiction, and is noted for founding the annual Three-Day Novel Contest .Authors who have been published by Arsenal Pulp ...
in 1998. He recently began writing a new book.
Poetry and fiction
- Company Town (Arsenal Pulp, 1991)
- Hard Core Logo (Arsenal Pulp, 1993)
- Kingsway (Arsenal Pulp, 1995)
- American Whiskey Bar (Arsenal Pulp, 1997)
- The Pornographer's Poem (Doubleday Canada, 1999)
- 8x10 (Doubleday Canada, 2009)
Anthologies (featured in)
- Lost Classics (Knopf Canada, 2000)
- Story of a Nation (Doubleday Canada, 2001)
- The Notebooks (AnchorCanada, 2002)
- A Verse Map of Vancouver (Anvil Press, 2009)
External links
- Interview with January Magazine (February 2000)
- IMDb Profile