arts
December 15, 2025
What rhymes with la la la, la la la la la? Kevin Killian, the poet obsessed with Kylie Minogue
He wrote poems named after Kylie songs and named his collection of erotic fiction after her indie album. He even loved the B-sides. So what did the avant garde writer find so inspiring about the mini Melbourne marvel?
TL;DR
- Kevin Killian, a figure in San Francisco's New Narrative movement, had a celebrity obsession, particularly with Kylie Minogue.
- He published poetry collections named after Kylie Minogue songs and her album "Impossible Princess."
- The posthumous collection "Padam Padam" pays homage to Minogue's 2023 hit and Killian's work.
- Killian's devotion reflected his interest in blurring high and low culture and his identity as a gay man.
- His literary style often used a "third term" to engage with complex experiences, using popular culture figures like Minogue as a lens.
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