Black Book

Book Description

In Black Book, Robert Mapplethorpe presents an astonishing photographic study of black men today. In their diversity, impact, subtlety, technical virtuosity, erotic appeal, and deep humanity, these photographs constitute a stunning celebration of the contemporary black male."all my life they've been near me/these men" says Ntozake Shange in her Foreword, "i've been holdin your heart in/my hand since i was a child/cause i wanted what all you were/what all you are/now you're a man."

Customer Reviews:

I Will Purchase This Book.......2006-08-22

I will buy this book soon as a private tribute to a dear friend of mine, Jeff Gray, who is one of the models in the book. I remember him showing me the photos which Robert Mapplethorpe had taken of him. At the time, he doubted that they would ever be published. I did see the book later, but didn't purchase, but I was impressed.

When Jeff was lying in bed in a hospital in San Francisco, I called to inform him that the book had indeed been published. He was thrilled to know that he had been immortalized, for he was dying of AIDS. Jeff never saw the book and didn't have anything negative to say about Robert, whom I never met. I still own a pair of leather pants and a vest Jeffrey designed and made for me.

Black Is Beautiful.......2005-04-14

Published in 1986, Robert Mapplethorpe's BLACK BOOK remains one of my favorite books of photography. Nothing had been published like it previously; nothing comparable has been published since. The book is devoted entirely to shots of black men, some of them naked, some of them not. There are portraits included here as well-- one of my favorites is the stunning portrait of Roedel Middleton on page 70. Some of the images are outrageously beautiful. Many of the models' bodies take on the quality of polished ebony. The four nude photographs of someone named Ajitto in a classical pose-- as are many of the images-- at the beginning of the book are as beautiful as any you will ever see.

It is common knowledge of course now that some of these photographs have been declared obscene (by the likes of Jesse Helms et al.) and racist by some African Americans.(Some of the black men making these allegations, to paraphrase the black poet Don Lee, talk black but sleep white.) According to a less-than-scientific survey by this Caucasian male, there are about 94 photographs included here, only six of them are of body parts-- and I'm not talking here of feet and hands or even behinds here-- 27 are of male nudes with their genitalia exposed, and only in five of them is the model unnamed. Mapplethorpe may well have been a racist, but I fear his critics may have to look elsewhere for proof. An observation or two: his models appear to be willing subjects as no one is tied up or seems to be shot unawares. Secondly, the nature of the male animal of all colors being what it is, there's a good possibility that people having little to offer may have been unwilling to make the sacrifice of giving the viewer the full monty. The artist obviously loved black men and had many black friends as well as lovers. Finally the poet Ntozake Shange has written a beautiful poem as an introduction to this book. Apparently she had no problem with Mapplethorpe's creative vision.

Many of these photographs will last.

Has a great depiction of the male body as it should be seen........1999-06-03

Mapplethorpe, with his great photographic potenial produced a riviting book that dignifies the male, black body to the next zenith. He was able to capture the very essence of what it is to be a male and to be viewed as "God's" art or creation and not a male "pig." This book demonstrates the power of the camera when the beholder knows what he/she is doing. The images in this book do not apal me, afend me nor do they disgust me. I enjoyed reading and flipping through this book as a ligitimate art reviewer and as a academic scholar.

Average customer rating:

"An Eloquent Record of Loss"
Delightful
A thought-provoking collection of Mapplethorpe's sex picture
One word: Ouch
very good book

Pictures: Robert Mapplethorpe
Robert Mapplethorpe
Manufacturer: Arena Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Flowers

ASIN: 1892041162

Customer Reviews:

"An Eloquent Record of Loss".......2007-05-22

Published after both the death of Robert Mapplethorpe in 1989 and the controversial exhibits at the Corcoran Gallery and the Cincinnati Museum PICTURES contains 100 of the artist's sex photographs. Some of the images had been published in previous books: Brian Ridley and Lyle Heeter, 1979, for example, where the two men are formally posed in full leather, (Ridley is in chains) in a beautifully furnished room complete with Oriental carpet. Of course Mapplethorpe's self-portrait in leather jacket, the first portrait in the collection, had been published and exhibited previously.

The photographs range from noncontroversial portraits to the extremes of S & M. Some of these images will shock; others (Baby Larry) you may find silly. A couple of them may make you laugh. (The infamous self-portrait of Mapplethorpe, for example, with the riding crop comes to mind.)

Mapplethorpe detested the term "erotic art." He believed that art was either art or it was not. The photographs certainly are beautifully lit and formally composed. Many of the models were his friends and it is obvious that no one was photograhed against his will. (There is only one photograph of a woman among the shots.) In addition to the quotations from Mapplethorpe, Ingrid Sischy has written a thoughtful introduction to the photographs. Since Mapplethorpe did most of these photographs in the 70's and early 80's, we have to wonder how many of these men died of AIDS. Sischy says so well: "They [the photographs] articulate the hope, the craziness, the sense of emerging freedom, the battles of self-esteem, the fight to be proud of one's love. . . Although Mapplethorpe couldn't have anticipated this, as it turns out his photographs have also become an eloquent record of loss."

Certainly no one before or since Mapplethorpe has done this kind of photography. We can only imagine the thousands of images he would have given the world by now, had he lived.

Delightful.......2006-12-23

This book defines Robert Mapplethorpe's work in his most extreme and pornographic, but most pure form. Bondage, gay sex, and torture are all revealed in this portrait of the gay community. Although graphically extreme, each of these photos reveal a certain personality of the participants within displaying the reality and the often grotesque nature of inner desires of the human soul.

The book itself is printed with wonderful photographic sharpness and clarity to ensure the reader of every detail. Huge photo prints and commentary by Mapplethorpe himself make this a wonderful addition to any person who relishes erotic photography and artforms. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who is partial to his works rather than to someone who was recently introduced.

A thought-provoking collection of Mapplethorpe's sex picture.......2001-10-22

This collection of pictures is bound in a good quality cover and printed on a glossy paper of reasonable quality.

The images themselves are, in the main, sex pictures; S&M pictures; and a few portraits. The sex pictures are quite grotesque, concentrating as they do on the pain, blood, urine, bondage and so on. Whether you'll enjoy these depends on your view of the subject. Personally, I didn't find them uplifting or illuminating. The models were sullen, looked unhappy, or downright sad: but then I suppose if your... has been nailed to a plank you're entitled to be a little shaken!

The few portraits included in this volume were entirely unpleasing, and not representative of Mapplethorpe's better work. They offered no real insight ot the subjects, who remained cold and aloof, detached it seems from the process of making art.

This is a collection of many of Mapplethorpe's more 'sensational' and 'shocking' images. Whether you are affronted or not they do deserve inspection, if only to see what the 'conservatives' tried to ban. You might actually feel repulsed and agree that these pictures are not art but pornography.

One word: Ouch.......2000-09-18

You can always debate whether this book is "art" or not, but the fact is I am worried about what happened to some of the subjects. Helmut? Are you okay? I think Mapplethorpe wanted to shock, and he did, but I found the pictures had too much pain in them to be appreciated. I was deadened to what Mapplethorpe wanted to say, if he wanted to say anything at all. Ouch, ouch, ouch.

very good book.......2000-09-02

artistic and powerful, i recommend it

The Homoerotic Photograph : Male Images from Durieu / Delacroix to Mapplethorpe

Average customer rating:

Beautiful images!

The Homoerotic Photograph : Male Images from Durieu / Delacroix to Mapplethorpe
Allen Ellenzweig , and George Stambolian
Manufacturer: Columbia University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0231075367

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful images!.......1998-11-12

I first got this book as a present, and thought that it would be a picture book about beefy gym-bodied men with little substance. Upon reading and looking through the book, my impressions were quickly turned around. This book has a wonderful collection of pictures dating back to the 1800s that show how men have been portrayed by various photographers through the years. Some images are very striking and almost appalling, while others accentuate male form. The text that accompanies the pictures is very informative and critical, making the reader think while he looks upon the images. This is a book that I now enjoy returning to in order to see that the male body has so many possible portrayals. I was even impressed to see my own college professor's work in the book!!

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Male pictures at a good price
Another Fine Leddick Volume
Did nothing for this straight woman
Not what I expected
Good General History of an Artform

The Male Nude

Manufacturer: Benedikt Taschen Verlag
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 3822879665

Amazon.com

It is impossible to separate out the history of representations of the naked male from the history of gay male culture, sensibility, or erotica. From the statuary of classical Greece to Michelangelo's David to the photography of Robert Mapplethorpe, the nude male form has signified for gay men not only sexual desire but homosexuality itself.

David Leddick's The Male Nude is an almost 800-page survey of the nude male in photography of the past century that presents us with the changes in body type, beauty, and sexual affect that have occurred over the past 100 years, but with evolving notions of "art" and "culture" as well. From Victorian prints of strong men to the "health" photos of the 1940s and '50s to the works of contemporary artists such as Mapplethorpe, Bruce Weber, and Nan Goldin, David Leddick charts the evolutions that the male body--and gay culture--have taken for ten decades. --Michael Bronski

Book Description

The very best and most impressive images from the original klotz of this title are included here- you'll find the likes of Robert Mapplethorpe, Herb Ritts, David Hockney, George Platt Lynes, Cecil Beaton, Nan Goldin, Wolfgang Tillmans, Pierre et Gilles, and even Chuck Close. For anyone who worships the male body or wants to know why others do...

Customer Reviews:

Male pictures at a good price.......2005-08-16

I bought this book wondering about the quality and quantity of male picture included, but I am totally satisfied. The book displays a comprehensive sample of male pictures from late XIX century up to today. I think it will be useful for fine art students and other people who need a good visual source for the male nude.

Another Fine Leddick Volume.......2004-03-24

Nobody does a better job of collecting and publishing nude photographs of men than David Leddick. He adds here another fine volume to his several books on the subject. Leddick begins with photographers in the Nineteenth Century and continues to the present in chronological order. All the photographers you expect are here as well as some of the photographs we have seen many times before. (I'm thinking now of Mapplethorpe's infamous "Man in Polyester Suit.") In addition to Mapplethorpe, there's Thomas Eakins, Wilhelm von Gloeden, Cecil Beaton, George Platt Lynes-- for my money nobody surpasses him-- Bob Mizer, Horst and Herb Ritts. But Leddick also includes David Hockney, Duane Michaels, the incomparable Imogene Cunningham and one of my favorite photographs by one of my favorite photographers, a shot of Helmut Berger by Helmut Newton. I was also glad to see Leddick include the work of Nan Goldin and Pierre et Gilles, two unique photographers whom I admire tremendously. There's a good chance you'll find your favorite photographer included here and become acquainted as well with artists you didn't previously know.

This little volume is beautifully printed and extremely well-priced.

Did nothing for this straight woman.......2003-01-23

I must agree with the reviewer who stated that this book had a gay tilt to it. That's perfectly fine if that's your cup of tea, and I'm glad that gay men have books such as these to choose from. I prefer something with just photos of nude men by themselves. I guess I'll continue my search for such a book. I'm disappointed that there is so little out there for heterosexual women like me.

Not what I expected.......2002-12-28

How could it not be, right? It's called 'Male Nude'. Well there are many nude men within its pages, but nothing I found spectacular or new in approach. It seemed this book was done with a gay tilt to it as well, which is fine if that's what one is looking for. Several of the images are of men together, hugging, admiring, etc. I hoped for more nudes on their own, instead of images provoking what happened before or what will happen after the photo was taken. Regardless, there are some nice physiques here, and the book is laid out in chronological order from the 1900s up to present day. The past pictures were intersting to see, but this isn't something I keep precious in my collection.

Good General History of an Artform.......2002-06-04

There isn't much else I can say that I didn't cover in the title of my review. This is a good collection of photographs divided into time periods, each of which is given a brief essay introduction by Leddick. Leddick, while not a brilliant art historian, is the best I've found on this controversial and often overlooked artform.

Average customer rating:

I don't have received this book
Her Infinite Variety
The "other" Mapplethorpe
View it once and feel bored, then view it again and again.
An eye opening exploration of the beauty of a strong woman

Lady: Lisa Lyon
Robert Mapplethorpe , and Bruce Chatwin
Manufacturer: Bulfinch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0821222775

Customer Reviews:

I don't have received this book.......2007-03-08

I still don't have received this book. First it will arrive at the end of Februar, nov aprox April! But I already paid for it.

Her Infinite Variety.......2001-04-19

This book is one of the most interesting photographic studies of a woman that I have ever seen because it displays so many dimensions of the same person. You feel like you've moved past the external to understand the psyche of Lisa Lyon. Most books of female photography focus on one aspect of one female role, whether it be as fashion model, temptress, character etched in a face, tender of children, or as a beautiful icon. This book captures all those roles except the tender of children, plus adds quite a few others that are rarely seen. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the full potential of the photographic art.

Before going further, you should realize that this book contains much female nudity of a challenging sort that would probably cause the images to exceed an R rating if they were a motion picture.

Most of the images were taken in New York City between 1980 and 1982. Ms. Lyon had won the first World Women's Bodybuilding Championship in Los Angeles in 1979. She refused to defend her title, stating that she was a "performance artist" who acts as a "sculptor whose raw material was her own body." Seeing her posing in these images makes me realize that aspect of her talent and interests. She and Mr. Mapplethorpe collaborated on what images to shoot, and enjoyed lively wrangles along the way.

The foreword by Samuel Wagstaff nicely summarizes the results. The images "escape the shackles of womanly stereotype." As the dust cover image shows, she could sit like a "lady" while showing her "muscle" at the same time. The joint effects are fascinating. As Mr. Wasgtaff points out, it's "a new freedom of tongue-in-cheek." One image has her standing totally bare wearing only an old-fashioned gas mask.

Ms. Lyon adds her own comment. "The pictures are a little hard, like us." As a body builder, she can pose so that you see extreme muscle definition or she can relax in a dress and simply look like a fascinating fashion model. This flexibility adds greatly to the viewer's enjoyment.

In the essay by Bruce Chatwin, you can learn a lot about Mr. Mapplethorpe's work here. "His eye for a face is the eye of a novelist in search of a character . . . ." ". . . [H]is eye for a body that of a classical sculptor in search of an 'ideal.'" Mr. Mapplethorpe's female sitters "seem mesmerized . . . by his presence, and they are temporarily transported into a dream-world."

As for Ms. Lyon, she describes herself this way. "My childhood was dark." Mr. Chatwin points out the wonderful contribution she makes to the images through her "histrionics, ability to sass, spoof, impersonation, parody, caricature, and charade." He feels that Mr. Mapplethorpe and she have created a "picaresque novel." Mr. Mapplethorpe was originally attracted by her "air of an Old Testament heroine."

I found almost all of the images to be outstanding. They are not named, so I will do my best to describe a few to give you a flavor for the work.

Emerging from the water, Fire Island, New York (this is a classic Venus pose);

Framed by foliage, Jamaica (this gives a feeling of full-bodied innocence in the Garden of Eden);

In repose on a raised cement curb, Jamaica (this gives a sculptoral feeling of looking at a Greek goddess);

Lifting torso on bench, Jamaica (this is a difficult muscle stunt that displays perfect form and strength, and gives the feeling of classic sculpture);

Silhouette with knife, New York City (this looks like a French cut-out);

Sitting on edge of shower, Jamaica (this feels like a woman in deep thought and is all about the mind, even though the body is nude);

Holding hand mirror wearing corset looking out, New York City (this one raises the question of, who am I?);

Flamenco dancer with her hand holding her skirt up to one side, New York City (this is an idealisation of the female identity);

Nude lit by flaming paper, New York City (this seems like a primitive woman celebrating the religious mysteries).

I found all of the many fashion shots to be delightful because they have a campy feeling. My favorite was the one of her wearing a fedora.

For comparison, I suggest you look at Boris Vallejo's fine photograpic studies of female bodybuilders for his illustrations. That will give you the full sense of how imaginative and wonderful these photographs are.

The question this collection poses is how to get beyond stereotypes. Often these preset notions are so grounded in our thinking that we are not even aware of them. As a result, we presume, assume, and misjudge. We project our fears onto what we see, and act accordingly. I suggest that you use this work to encourage you to project your love and caring instead.

Look beyond what you see now, to imagine what could be. Then act on the potential!

The "other" Mapplethorpe.......1999-12-12

Robert Mapplethorpe is famous for his highly erotic male nudes. He also created a series of B/W photos of flowers in order to have pictures to sell that were not so erotically charged. His photos of Lisa Lyon, the first famous female bodybuilder, fall into a very different category. Mapplethorpe shot a few other muscular females in the late 1970s, but his most extensive work was with Lisa. This was a very collaborative project - Lisa Lyon was a kind of "performance artist" who was very involved in creating the images seen in this book. By modern standards, Lisa hardly looks like a bodybuilder at all (the so-called "fitness" women are more muscular) but she was very much a pioneer in the field and Mapplethorpe was one of the few photographers of the day (another being Helmut Newton) to turn his attention to the muscular female body. "Lady" is an interesting book of pictures, especially for (1) fans of Mapplethrope, (2) fans of Lisa Lyon, (3) fans of the muscular female physique - as well as those who simply like interesting collections of photographs.

View it once and feel bored, then view it again and again........1997-09-07

I am a Mapplethorpe fan and, after viewing the Lisa Lyon publication the first time, I felt somewhat disappointed. Then, days later, I became curious as to what I may have overlooked in the pictures. Indeed. Even today, when I open the book to enjoy the work of Mapplethorpe, I sometimes notice something of interest I missed the last time. By no means, is Lisa Mapplethorpe's best publication, but, most assuredly, it is a good buy and one which will gather no dust

An eye opening exploration of the beauty of a strong woman.......1997-01-31

Robert Mapplethorpe is one of our century's most misunderstood, and important artists. His skill with the camera was matched only by his genius in deciding what, and how, to photograph. These images of Lisa Lyons are at times reminiscient of the work of Edward Weston, one the the all time great photographers of history, and they reveal the true beauty of feminine strength. Sadly, Robert was one of the casualties of the AIDS crisis, but his work lives on, and will change lives for the better for many, many years to come. Review by Edward Lynn, student of commercial photography, The Art Institute of Seattle

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Mapplethorpe's Women
Far from Mapplethorpe's Best
Some Women

Some Women
Robert Mapplethorpe
Manufacturer: Bulfinch Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Perfect Paperback

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ASIN: 0821219375

Customer Reviews:

Mapplethorpe's Women.......2007-08-02

Here in SOME WOMEN published in 1989 is a collection of Robert Mapplethorpe's images of women. There are a few nudes, some photographs of children; but most of these 86 pictures are portraits of women, many of them famous. A couple of males crash this harem, however: (Thomas, p. 89, David Brisbane, p. 91, and Paul Wadina, pp. 92 and 93). The highly stylized shot of Wadina and Melody on page 92 is one of my favorite photographs in this collection.

Other favorites are portraits of Yoko Ono (p. 79), Susan Sarandon (p. 61) photographed holding a child, on p. 72 the exquisite profile of Brooke Shields (the most beautiful photograph I've ever seen of her), Isabella Rossellini (pp. 33 and 35), and Grace Jones (p. 69).

The nude photographs certainly have the quality of marble, as do most of the portraits for that matter. Like alabaster, they are beautiful though cold. They are usually lit the same way with studio strobe lighting with no facial shadows and shot before a dark or black background. Some of the faces (the cover shot, for example) seem to be floating on a sea of blackness. Certainly at the time of his death Mapplethorpe had long since perfected a style that made his work recognizable immediately. All photographers, by the very nature of what they do, have to be to some degree control freaks-- for lack of a better term. Mapplethorpe was certainly no exception. In her insightful essay included in this book, Joan Didion describes his photographs as "the perilous imposition of order on chaos, of classical form on unthinkable images." (Not so unthinkable here as in some of his male images) Finally she says that Mapplethorpe himself said that he always wanted his work to be symmetrical. These photographs indicate that he was successful.

Far from Mapplethorpe's Best.......2001-04-25

I was disappointed by the 86 images of nudes, fashion shots, and portraits in this book. Although they are technically wonderful, well-lit, and beautiful, they lack a good grasp of the inner reality of the subjects. The contrast between this book and his remarkable work in Lady: Lisa Lyon and Flowers could not have been greater.

This book contains modest nudity of the sort that would require an R rating for a motion picture. None of the challenging images that made Mr. Mapplethorpe famous are present here.

In the annotation by Joan Dideon, Mr. Mapplethorpe is quoted as saying "You don't know why it's happening, but it's happening." Too little was happening in most of these images. The exceptions were the girls, who clearly expressed their personalities in an unguarded way. Most of the models are "well known, figures of considerable celebrity or fashion or achievement." As such, "they are professional women, performers before the camera." I think that as such, they were able to show just what they wished to reveal about themselves. So you get a mask, rather than a person. Mr. Mapplethorpe says about himself that his work is "very symmetrical." I agree, and while that works well with his flower portraits (in Flowers) that symmetry just seems a little dull here to me. Ms. Dideon also points out that "the idealization here is never of the present." Certainly, you will see that he is inspired by classical Greek and Roman ideas of female beauty.

Here are my favorites: Lydia Cheng, 1985; Sonia Resika, 1988 (p. 18); Brit Hammer, 1988; Lara Harris, 1987 (p. 27); Isabella Rossellini, 1988 (p. 33); Caroline Herrera, 1988; Alexandra Ellis, 1988; Blake Finkelson, 1988; Eva Amurri, 1988 (p. 58); Susan Sarandon and Eva Amurri, 1988; Brooke Shields, 1988 (p. 73); Stella Goodall, 1984; Diandre Douglas, 1988; and Dolphine Neil-Jones, 1987.

As you can see the timing of these images is very similar, so you get a compressed sense of female beauty reflecting a moment in history. In a way, it's like a candid snapshot of beauty, rather than a cultural panorama.

After you finish this book, think about another thing Mr. Mapplethorpe said, "I'm looking for the unexpected." Where can you find and use the unexpected to expand your vision?

Stretch to the limits of imagination, rather than being bound by the vanity of the ego.

Some Women.......2000-10-26

Though controversial and best known for his erotic photography of male nudes, Some Women shows the depth and resounding mastery of Mapplethorpe's creativity and artistic talent. This is a compilation of B&W photographs of women of all ages: children through seniors. Some are fashion models, nude torsos, others unknown friends, some famous actresses (including: Sigourney Weaver, Susan Sarandon, Melanie Griffith, Dianne Weist, Grace Jones and Kathleen Turner to name a few.) Each photographic plate is resoundly crafted and displayed highlighting the complex and compelling beauty of women.

Robert Mapplethorpe: Certain People : A Book of Portraits

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Robert Mapplethorpe: Certain People : A Book of Portraits
Robert Mapplethorpe
Manufacturer: Twelvetrees
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Sexually Revealing the Self!

Robert Mapplethorpe: Autoportrait:
Richard Marshall
Manufacturer: Arena Editions
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Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1892041413

Book Description

Robert Mapplethorpe is best known for his intentionally shocking, often sculptural erotica and his exquisite minimalist floral images. His earliest and most frequent subject was himself, in various guises that celebrated his ego, his body, and his sexual preferences. Taken in the early 1970s, these 65 self-portraits, most previously unpublished, create a window into the soul of a complex artist, and present Mapplethorpe's singular vision that helped shift the direction of late-20th-century art. As with all Arena Editions publications, this book features top-of-the-line production values, with beautiful papers, printing, and binding.

Customer Reviews:

Sexually Revealing the Self!.......2002-03-27

Robert Mapplethorpe was never afraid of revealing his true self and personal sexuality to the world. He shocked many people with his "in your face" attitude. He wanted the world to realize that we're all sexual beings who shouldn't be ashamed of our bodies or sexual desires. Life is for living, and he lived it to the fullest. There have been many books published about Mapplethorpe, but this volume is a very personal collection of his black and white Polaroid photographs he took of himself in the early 1970's. They reveal the many moods of Mapplethorpe, whether he was being erotic, sexy, dark & sinister, or very innocent. It's a valuable collection of photos that verge on the edge of excitement. There are about 65 black & white self-portraits here. Some are not as clear as others due to the technology of the period.

There is a very informative essay by Richard Marshall which is an invaluable addition to this book. A nicely produced book by Arena Editions, with quality paper, printing, and design. Robert Mapplethorpe was a man who's personal beauty and good looks, only enhanced his talented life as one of our most famous photographers. A handsome addition for anyone's collection.

Book Description

A memoir of the famous photographer by a former friend.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2005-10-30

I found this book extremely disappointing and agree with other reviewers that the author seemed more interested in aggrandizing himself through association with Mapplethorpe. Fritscher also seems intent on producing this biography to prove that Mapplethorpe selected him, rather than Patricia Morrisroe, as biographer. The writing is annoying, frequently repetitive, and skips all over the place chronologically. The book comes across more as a collection of magazine/newspapers articles rather than a coherent whole.

A Lasting Snapshot of Photographic Genius.......2005-01-05

Few artists have been mythologized as quickly and as completely as the late Robert Mapplethorpe. The incredible life of the controversial photographer is given new focus in the biography Mapplethorpe: Assault with a Deadly Camera by friend, confidant, and former lover Jack Fritscher. Insider knowledge of the man humanizes a complex individual who has become obscured by his art and by the scourge of censorship.
This revealing portrait by Hastings House publishers shows Mapplethorpe from his early days as a fledgling photographer. As the former editor of Drummer magazine, it was Fritscher who gave Mapplethorpe his first magazine cover. The biography traces his rise to prominence as the avant-garde photographer of the New York art scene, his sexual obsessions, his ongoing relationship with punk legend Patti Smith, his drug use, his submersion into leather culture, his love of beauty, his theories on art, and much more. Into the narrative Fritscher weaves a fair amount of artistic exploration and examination as well.
Mapplethorpe: Assault with a Deadly Camera also contains a generous number of photos and a gold mine of data about not only Robert Mapplethorpe, but about the larger scope of the gay leathersex New York scene of the late 70s and early 80s. Fritscher explores somewhat extensively the great creators of the erotic image from that period such as Rex, as well as those on the photographic cutting edge such as Joel-Peter Witkin. By exploring Mapplethorpe's influences as well as his life, Fritscher provides the reader with a wider understanding not only of the artist, but also of his world and times.

Many authors wrote this book by Fritscher.......2004-04-27

By chasing down lots of interviews, author Fritscher manages to have several friends of Mapplethorpe compose their thoughts of robert and his photographs. The beauty of this book is the multiple voices speaking which Fritscher takes the time to present to honor Mapplethorpe. He could have had the last word himself--after all, he had the book contract and was the man's sometime lover. This Mapplethorpe memoir is actually written by the following artists and personalities who Fritscher presents--AND LETS SPEAK IN THEIR OWN VOICES WHICH HE COLLECTED: GEORGE DUREAU, HOLLY SOLOMON, CAMILLE O'GRADY, REX, MARK WALKER, THE INCREDIBLE MILES EVERETT, EDWARD LUCIE-SMITH, JOEL-PETER WITKIN. (Yes, this book is scary, and it gets scarier as time goes by and our culture becomes more puritanical. It's also a good reference book of those times and events that are now so far back in the past.

Mildly interesting, mostly annoying and self-aggrandizing........2004-01-11

It's been about two years since I read this book, but its lingering effect is extreme irritation with the writer. Fritscher is clearly far more interested in himself than in Mapplethorpe, and boastfully uses the subject of his "biography" (term used charitably) as little more than a tool with which to broadcast his own (clearly exaggerated) influence on -- and involvement with -- the photographer. While I don't doubt that Fritscher played a small role in Mapplethorpe's life and art, I don't for a second believe that it was even a tiny fraction of what he'd like you to believe. Jack, you were one of a large pool of pornographers and one of an even more humongous population of RM's lovers. This bio reeks of little more than self-promotion and self-promoting fiction, and the fact that it was penned posthumously makes it even more disgusting and annoying.

Very interesting "read" that penetrates 70s art &sex world.......2003-09-03

Written as a tell-all memoir of pop culture, this book is amazing in what it tells us about lost lives in lost times. Real nostalgia. Actually, this book is loaded with "gay street credential." The fact that it has an index tells you the book seriously intends to record history's major and minor characters. Many gay pop culture books don't even bother to have an index which makes them useless. My litmus test in a book store is to first see if a book has an index, and then I skim it to see who's included and who's not, because that way I can judge the book's presentation and prejudices. Too bad Patty Smith doesn't write about Mapplethorpe and this period like his boyfriend did in writing this attack on American lying, political hypocrisy, and phoney art wackjobs. What is generously amazing is that boyfriend Fritscher seems to genuinely miss and mourne Mapplethorpe to the degree that he devotes 60% of the book to direct interviews with other Mapplethorpe art friends like George Dureau, Joel-Peter Witkin, and others who all speak for themselves.

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Certain People: A Book of Portraits.
Robert MAPPLETHORPE
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RJJU3W

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