Splice of Life: A Memoir in 13 Film Genres

Movies and memory intersect in this compelling and unconventional memoir from queer writer, film aficionado, and Jeopardy! contestant Charles Jensen. Splice of Life follows Jensen from his upbringing and struggles with sexual awareness in rural Wisconsin to his sexual liberation in college and, finally, to the complex relationships and bizarre coincidences of adulthood. Exploring what it means to be male and queer, each essay splices together Jensen’s lived experiences with his analysis of a single film. Deftly woven, Splice of Life shows us how personal and cultural memory intertwine, as well as how the stories we watch can help us understand the stories we all tell about ourselves.

Charles Jensen directs the Writers’ Program at UCLA Extension and was designated a Cultural Trailblazer by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. He’s the author of three poetry collections and seven chapbooks that cross the boundaries of genre and form. A cinephile and bookworm since childhood, he studied film and creative writing at the University of Minnesota and Arizona State University. Originally from a small town in Wisconsin, he lives in Long Beach, California, with his partner Bill, and is a proud Jeopardy! second runner-up.