Jim Goad
This biography of a living person relies too much on references to primary sources. (September 2015) |
Jim Goad | |
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Born | James Thaddeus Goad 1960 or 1961 (age 62–63) Answer Me! The Redneck Manifesto Shit Magnet, Whiteness: The Original Sin (2018) |
James Thaddeus Goad (born 1961)
Personal life
Early life
Goad grew up in
1980s–90s
Goad graduated in 1985 with a B.A. in Journalism from Temple University while living in New Jersey.[2] In the early 1980s, Goad met Debbie Rosalie, who was eight years older, in New York. They relocated to Los Angeles and were married in 1987.[1] Goad worked at the Los Angeles Reader, covering local news, but wished to cover more fringe subjects, so the couple began publishing their own magazine, Answer Me![2]
Around 1994, the couple moved to Portland, Oregon and Goad devoted his time to writing.[3] In May 1997, Goad began dating then-stripper Anne "Skye" Ryan about the time that Debbie was diagnosed with the ovarian cancer that later killed her.[2][4][5] Goad described Ryan as "Sweet Dracula girl" and as being "...fifteen years younger than me and a thousand times more fucked-up."[1] In November 1997, Debbie was granted a restraining order against Goad, after stating that he had hit, kicked, and spit on her and threatened to kill her.[2][5] They divorced in December, 1997.[5]
In May 1998, Goad and Ryan had a fight in Goad's car outside of Portland.[2] Goad left Ryan by the side of the road, and fled to Washington state.[4] When police met Ryan in a hospital emergency room, she had a blackened eye that was swollen shut, "bite marks on her hand and she was bleeding in several places."[5] Goad was charged with assault and kidnapping, facing a potential 25 years in prison. After his arrest, Goad's ex-wife Debbie filed a motion to withdraw her restraining order, stating that Goad "has seeked counseling for three months and we are now friends after our legal divorce…. If I have a relapse from my ovarian cancer, [Jim] will take care of me and help me out."[5]
Goad pleaded guilty to reduced charges and served 2+1⁄2 years, split between jail and prison. He was released in the fall of 2000.[1] When asked if he had any remorse or guilt about beating Ryan, Goad said, "Absolutely not. I enjoyed it."[1]
While Goad was in prison, author Jim Hogshire started a "Free Jim Goad" website, claiming that Goad told him he was innocent. After his release, Goad disputed the concept of the website, calling Hogshire a "nutty Muslim junkie." He stated that while he had said Ryan was lying, he never claimed innocence, but was not able to speak freely while incarcerated.[4]
2000s
Upon his release from prison in 2000, Goad returned to Portland and was on
According to Goad, he was diagnosed with a "plum-sized" brain tumor in 2008. The situation was outlined in his book The Bomb Inside My Brain. During a nine-hour operation, the tumor was removed. He was subsequently prescribed radiation and anticonvulsive medication.
Career
Writing style and beliefs
As a writer, Jim Goad has been called the "poster boy for the transgressive school of writing."[4] Chuck Palahniuk describes Goad's writing style as being "brutally honest without worrying about being correct."[4]
Goad's work examines American culture, often popular and political culture. His early work reads anti-
ANSWER Me!
From 1991 to 1994, Goad
The Redneck Manifesto
In 1994, Goad signed a two-book deal with
Shit Magnet
Shit Magnet: One Man's Miraculous Ability to Absorb the World's Guilt, is Goad's second book. Major New York publishing houses declined to publish Shit Magnet,[10] and it was published in 2002 by Feral House. The book, written while Goad was in prison, is an autobiography. It examines Goad's childhood, teenage years, his relationships with former wife Debbie Goad and ex-girlfriend Anne Ryan, and reflections about his time in prison and his experience with the judicial system. The book includes great detail about Oregon prison life, including detailed descriptions about fellow prisoners, of whom he writes "forced sterilization maybe wasn't such a bad idea."[4] Writer John Strausbaugh described Shit Magnet as "extremely painful" in detail and comparative in drama to the autobiography of Klaus Kinski.[1] Humor is Dead calls Shit Magnet a "sordid and often shocking personal allegory of guilt and violence."[7] In 2008, a play titled "Torn Between Two Bitches," was produced in Los Angeles by Michael Sargent, based on Shit Magnet.[11]
Other work
He wrote a
In 2007, Jim Goad's Gigantic Book of Sex was published.[6] The book consists of over 100 articles, op-eds and facts about sex, all written by Goad.[14]
Goad writes a weekly column for Taki's Magazine and Greg Johnson (white nationalist)#Publishing and activism.[citation needed] Goad has also contributed to Vice[citation needed] and Hustler.[7]
Acting and music
Jim Goad has released music and performed as Big Red Goad, performing covers of classic and trucker-themed country songs. In 2007 he toured as the opening act for
In 2002, Goad acted in The Suzy Evans Story, a film about a police detective who protects a battered woman named Suzy and proceeds to abuse her himself. Goad joked that it was
Political views
Goad is referred to as the "godfather of the new right"[17] and is associated with the alt-right movement, with Proud Boys figure Gavin McInnes citing him as one of his favorite writers.[18] Goad does not consider himself part of the alt-right movement.[17]
Works
- Goad, Jim. The Redneck Manifesto: How Hillbillies, Hicks, and White Trash Became America's Scapegoats. New York: Simon & Schuster (1998). ISBN 0-684-83864-8
- Goad, Jim. Shit Magnet: One Man's Miraculous Ability to Absorb the World's Guilt. Port Townsend: Feral House (2002). ISBN 0-922915-77-6
- Goad, Jim & Blanchard, Jim. Trucker Fags in Denial. Seattle: Fantagraphics (2004).
- Goad, Jim. ANSWER Me!: The First Three. Baltimore: Scapegoat Publishing (2006). ISBN 0-9764035-3-6
- Goad, Jim. Jim Goad's Gigantic Book of Sex. Port Townsend: Feral House (2007). ISBN 1-932595-20-1
- Goad, Jim & Kopp, Hollister. Gun Fag Manifesto: Entertainment for the Armed Sociopath. Nine Banded Books/Underworld Amusements (2013). ISBN 978-0-9896972-0-0
- Goad, Jim. The Headache Factory: True Tales of Online Obsession and Madness. New York: Thought Catalog Books (2014).
- Goad, Jim. Whiteness: The Original Sin. (2018)
Discography
- Truck Drivin' Psycho 1996 (World Serpent)
- "Let's Fight!" with Jim Goad 2001 (Exotic)
- Hatesville, The Boyd Rice Experience, 2009 (Caciocavallo)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k John Strausbaugh (2 July 2002). "Jim Goad is a Bad Man". New York Press. Archived from the original on February 5, 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- ^ ISSN 0886-3032. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
- ^ a b "Why are you so fucking stupid?". Books. Bizarre. Archived from the original on 4 March 2007. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g Joseph Gallivan (30 Oct 2009). "Citizen Goad". The Portland Tribune. Pamplin Media Group. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Maureen O'Hagan (17 June 1998). "Goad Rage". Willamette Week. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ a b c Justin Farrington (2008). "Jim Goad". Interviews. Big City Redneck. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- ^ a b c d "An Interview with Jim Goad". Humor is Dead. 2003. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^ "Jim Goad on Why Donald Trump Was REALLY Elected". Podomatic. 2017-07-12.
- ^ Marcia Darnell (December 1997). "The Redneck Manifesto by Jim Goad". Rural Life. Colorado Central. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^ Amy Benfer (2001). "I offend, therefore I am". Paul Shirley. Salon.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- LAist. Archived from the originalon 15 June 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^ a b c Byron Beck (2004). "Goad Warrior". Swag Rag. Willamette Week. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^ Suicide Girls. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^ Michael Jackman (2009). "Lust Issues". Lit Up. Metro Times. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^ Jay Horton (28 Aug 2007). "Power of County, Thursday, August 30". Willamette Week. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ Chuck Palahniuk (28 Feb 2007). "The Outlaw". The Cult. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- ^ a b Korfhage, Matthew (17 October 2017). "Two Decades After Author Jim Goad Fell From Grace In Portland, He's Re-emerged As an Icon of the Alt-Right". Willamette Week. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "Reporters grapple with the 'right' way to cover the far right". Christian Science Monitor. Christian Science Monitor. 28 December 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2019.