Kenneth Anger's Legacy as Queer Cinema Pioneer and Occult Filmmaker

Kenneth Anger, a significant figure in the realm of experimental film, passed away this month at the age of ninety-six. Born in California in 1927, he renounced Christianity at eight and turned to paganism. He embarked on his filmmaking journey at the age of ten, with a career that extended from the 1940s to 2010, producing fourteen pieces in the 21st century despite his retirement in 1999. Anger was charged with obscenity for his 1947 film Fireworks, which featured explicit content and left a mark on queer filmmakers of the 1960s. His notable works, such as Scorpio Rising (1963) and Lucifer Rising (1972-80), explored provocative themes and included collaborations with icons like Mick Jagger. His 1959 publication, Hollywood Babylon, contained debunked rumors, and numerous projects remained incomplete. Anger's influence reached directors like Martin Scorsese and David Lynch.