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Jean Cocteau

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Poet

The Resume

    (July 5, 1889-October 11, 1963)
    Proponent of surrealist movement
    Wrote ‘Aladdin’s Lamp (1908),’ ‘The Frivolous Prince (1910),’ ‘The Cock and the Harlequin (1918),’ ‘A Call to Order (1926),’ ‘The Holy Terrors (1929),’ ‘Opium (1930),’ ‘Intimate Relations (1938),’ ‘Jean Marais (1951),’ ‘Colette (1955)’ and ‘The Requiem (1962)’
    Directed and wrote screenplays for ‘The Blood of a Poet (1930),’ ‘Beauty and the Beast (1946),’ ‘The Storm Within (1948),’ ‘The Holy Terrors (1949),’ ‘Orpheus (1950)’ and ‘The Testament of Orpheus (1960)’
    Poet/Novelist/Dramatist/Director/Painter/Designer

Why he might be annoying:

    He failed several examinations and left home at 15.
    As a youth he was nicknamed ‘The Frivolous Prince.’
    At 29, he had an affair with a 15 year old poet, Raymond Radriquet.
    He became addicted to opium.
    Fellow surrealist Andre Breton called him a ‘false poet.’
    Susan Sontag found his work campy.
    In old age, he started wearing leather pants and matador capes.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was a highly accomplished artist in several fields.
    He was openly gay.
    He drove an ambulance in Belgium during World War I.
    His movies influenced French New Wave filmmaking.
    He overcame his opium addiction.
    The Vichy Regime condemned his homosexuality and ‘decadent’ art.
    He worked with Erik Satie, Pablo Picasso, Edith Piaf, Coco Chanel, Claude Debussy, Igor Stravinsky and several other major artists.
    Film critic Pauline Kael praised his ability to ‘raise chic to art.’

Credit: Georgina


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 71 Votes: 54.93% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 10 Votes: 30.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 13 Votes: 46.15% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 14 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 28 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 14 Votes: 78.57% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 164 Votes: 76.22% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 95 Votes: 66.32% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 24 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 41 Votes: 73.17% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 71 Votes: 67.61% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 106 Votes: 51.89% Annoying