We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Julian Thomas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Julian , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
My new poetry collection titled ‘Black Existentialism: Autumn Leaves and Other Space Oddities’ has certainly become the most meaningful project I have brought to the public so far. Comprised of soulful poetry that harkens back to the 60’s and 70’s, this book brings social commentary and spiritual depth together as one. This collection of poems is fueled with jazz energy and charged with pop culture references from Joan Jett to Shaft, and everything in between. The summer book tour has taken me everywhere from Harlem, NY to my roots in the historical Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma. It has been a very powerful journey so far.
Julian , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
With a background in the theatre arts, I have been able to work in nearly all facets of the entertainment industry, including Film and TV. I have narrated around 25 audiobooks available on audible and had speaking roles in shows such as Hunters, For Life, and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Working in these multiple fields has given me a good basis for understanding different types of artists and much of those themes come up in my poetry publications.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
The best way to support artists is to not only patron their work but also share their creativity by word of mouth and social media.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
I am fascinated by books and films that probe the inner psyche of the journey of self, and how that examination informs a person on how best to overcome one’s socio-economic matrix. The journey of “the other” is black existentialism. The first pieces that come to mind are the films They Cloned Tyrone, Apocalypse Now, American Fiction, and the new hit movie Sinners. Books include Ambiguous Adventure, 1984, The Prophet, Ellison’s Invisible Man, and Sartre’s Nausea. The philosophical journey is similar to the James Joyce classic “Dubliners” and the themes resonate now as much as ever.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2003537/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomas_artandlife/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-thomas-9372495b/
- Twitter: https://x.com/julianthomas99
Image Credits
Greenwood Rising museum and cultural center, Tulsa Ok