Kenneth Macpherson (Jamaica)

Kenneth Macpherson (1902-1969) was a Scottish-born filmmaker, writer, and film critic, most notably associated with the avant-garde journal Close Up. While not Jamaican by birth or long-term residence, Macpherson is included in historical narratives of Jamaican art and culture due to his significant artistic collaboration with the Jamaican actress and artist, Winifred "Pawn" Bryant, whom he married.

Macpherson, along with his life partner Bryher (Annie Winifred Ellerman), established the film journal Close Up in 1927, which became a prominent platform for experimental film theory and criticism. He also founded the POOL film company, dedicated to producing and promoting avant-garde cinema.

His film Borderline (1930), starring Paul Robeson, H.D. (Hilda Doolittle, Bryher's former partner), and Bryant, explored themes of racial tension, psychological trauma, and sexual ambiguity. Borderline was partially filmed in Territet, Switzerland, and while it did not depict Jamaica directly, Bryant's presence as a Jamaican performer was a key element in the film's exploration of racial identity.

Macpherson's relationship with Bryant brought a Caribbean perspective, albeit indirectly, into his artistic work. While he wasn't a resident of Jamaica, his connection to Bryant and her Jamaican heritage solidified his somewhat tangential position within Jamaican artistic history. His films and writings, particularly Borderline, offer a complex and often controversial commentary on race and representation in the early 20th century.