David Avidan
David Avidan | |
---|---|
דוד אבידן | |
filmmaker, publicist, and playwright | |
Awards | 1993 Bialik Prize for Hebrew literature |
David Avidan (
Biography and literary career
He was born in
He was not popular with most critics or the general public throughout his life, often criticized as being egocentric,
By the early 1990s he could scarcely make a living, and his mental condition had deteriorated. Avidan died in Tel Aviv, the city which had played a central role in his life, and was, in many ways, the center of his creation.
Avidan died on May 11, 1995, in his Tel Aviv apartment at the age of 61.[1] Since his death, Avidan's reputation has been on the rise both in literary circles and in the popular imagination, positioning him as one of the core poets of the Israeli canon. A volume of Selected Poems by Avidan, "Futureman," translated by Tsipi Keller, has been published by Phoneme Media in 2017.
Awards
In 1993, Avidan was the co-recipient (jointly with Amalia Kahana-Carmon) of the Bialik Prize for Hebrew literature.[2]
Movies
- Message from the Future, a 1981 Israeli film Avidan wrote, directed and starred in, is a science fiction movie in English about future humans visiting present-day Israel. In the year 3005, a man is sent back to 1985 to convince the present leaders make certain that World War III happens, which he guarantees will make for a better future. Having already caused natural disasters and catastrophes by coming back from the future, he now tries to force his message on the world press and TV. Sheldon Teitelbaum has judged the film 'execrable'.[3]
Books (poetry) – partial list
- Lipless Faucets, 1954
- Personal Problems, 1957
- Subtotal, 1960
- Pressure Poems, 1962
- Something for Someone, 1964
- A Book of Possibilities – Poems and More, 1985
See also
References
- ^ Associated Press (May 13, 1995). "David Avidan, Poet And Playwright, 61". The New York Times.
- ^ "List of Bialik Prize recipients 1933–2004 (in Hebrew), Tel Aviv Municipality website" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 17, 2007.
- ^ John Clute and Peter Nicholls, eds, The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Orbit Books, 1993, p. 630.
Further reading
- ISBN 0-8143-2485-1
- Futureman (2017) ISBN 978-1944700140