Described as mixing the “critical apparatus of Foucault’s Language Counter-Memory Practice with the sensibilities of a Tod Browning movie” Jack Sargeant is a writer and lecturer who is fascinated by the limits of human behaviour, and the aesthetic, political, sexual, and philosophical challenges to these limits.

An acknowledged expert in underground film and culture, his work has been described as “dangerously inspirational”. His first book – written when he was 26 – DEATHTRIPPING: THE CINEMA OF TRANSGRESSION remains the only complete guide to post-punk New York underground film. Subsequent books NAKED LENS: BEAT CINEMA, SUTURE and CINEMA CONTRA CINEMA continue Sargeant’s exploration of underground cinema and avant garde artistic practice. Simultaneously Sargeant has written extensively about cult and neglected B-movies with essays appearing in ADDICTED, UNDERGROUND USA and LOST HIGHWAYS, of which Sargeant was also co-editor. More recently he co-edited NO FOCUS: PUNK FILM.

In addition to his fascination with underground culture, extreme behaviour, neglected histories, and obscure philosophies Sargeant has also written on various perverse manifestations of contemporary culture – these essays, on topics ranging from pop songs about car crashes to medical fetishism, and from Andy Warhol’s film work to serial killers and mass murderers – have been published in a variety of books and magazines. These have included FORTEAN TIMES, PANIK, HEADPRESS, BIZARRE, BB GUN, THE WIRE and many others. His fascination with the limits of human nature motivated his hardboiled true crime writing, including the book BORN BAD, and three volumes edited by Sargeant DEATH CULTS, GUND, DEATH, TERROR and BAD COP BAD COP.

He is a regular on the lecture circuit, and frequent guest / curator at venues and festivals in New York, Chicago, Melbourne, Sydney, London, Berlin, Brussels, and all points in-between. Since 2008 he has been the program director for the Revelation Perth International Film Festival.

Sargeant has also made numerous television and radio appearances, appearing in LOVE AND ANARCHY: THE WILD, WILD WORLD OF JAMIE LEONARDER, LLIK YOUR IDOLS and BLANK CITY. Sargeant is also a subject of a Danish television programme NEW APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE broadcast in 1999.

He currently lives in Sydney, Australia.