Isaac Julien: Riot

Isaac Julien: Riot serves as an intellectual biography of the renowned artist and filmmaker Isaac Julien. The book delves into pivotal moments of Julien's career, exploring the diverse influences that have shaped his multidisciplinary work, which spans film, art, documentary, and multi-screen installations. Drawing from a wide array of inspirations—including silent cinema, cultural studies, Chinese mythology, and pirate radio culture—Julien's art reflects significant political and cultural events of the past three decades, such as Thatcherism, the AIDS epidemic, punk rock, social unrest, and the globalization of the art market. This comprehensive volume situates Julien's oeuvre within the broader context of his personal and intellectual development, offering readers insight into the friendships, mentors, and cultural milieus that have informed his practice.