Create or Die: Essays on the Artistry of Dennis Hopper

by Stephen Lee Naish

Dennis Hopper (1936-2010) was one of most charismatic and protean figures to emerge from the American independent film movement of the 1960s and '70s, an incredibly compelling screen presence who helped give cult classics like Easy Rider and Blue Velvet their off-kilter appeal. But his artistic interests went far beyond acting, and this collection of essays is the first major work to take in Hopper as a creative artist in all his fields of endeavour, from acting and directing to photography, sculpture, and expressionist painting. Stephen Naish doesn't skimp on covering Hopper's best-known work, but he breaks new ground in putting it in context with his other creative enterprises, showing how one medium informs another, and how they offer a portrait of an artist who was restless, even flawed at times, but always aiming to live up to his create or die. Follow the podcasts by Steve Naish here . This collection of essays is the first major work to take in Dennis Hopper as a creative artist in all his fields of endeavour, from acting and directing to photography, sculpture, and expressionist painting.

110 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2025

About the author

Stephen Lee Naish is a writer, visual artist, and the author of six books of nonfiction, notably, Create or Die: Essays on the Artistry of Dennis Hopper (AUP), Riffs and Meaning (HeadPress), and Screen Captures: Film in the Age of Emergency (Newstar Books). His work has appeared in Aquarium Drunkard, Film International, Sublation Magazine, The Quietus, Empty Mirror, Dirty Movies, Albumism, and Merion West. He lives in Kingston, Ontario.

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written, remaining both authoritive and academic without being pretentious. I get the impression Naish is a fan and not writing these essays for kudos. The book dissects Hopper's movies focusing on his acting technique and mentions semi-biographic insights that shaped him. Detailed essays on the music featured in his movies and his photography/artwork which is often ignored. I would have liked to have seen a biography and a film review section, but that's not what this book is about.