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Rating: Summary: An honest view of a decade out of control Review: Anyone who was there knows that all of their conventions and beliefs were challenged or totally discarded. The 1960's was a cultural roller coaster ride that bounced and threw us back and forth like being caught in the teeth of an angry dog. It was an explosion of artistic beauty and also an explosion of unparalleled madness. Richard Avedon's portrait photos convey a brutal honesty that captures the mind set of the decade perfectly. He has an undescribable ability to capture the natural human nature of a subject. When you see a black and white portrait by Avedon, you feel just like you've known the subject for years. He's the "Matthew Brady" of the 60's battleground. One note of caution: several photos contain nudity perhaps not appropriate for younger viewers.
Rating: Summary: What Were They Thinking? Review: Before going into the merits of this book, let me caution readers that the book (and back cover) contain many images and written material that will shock and appall many including four-letter words and obscene gestures, undressed people portrayed for their shock value, and people involved in activities not often seen in public. If those things offend you, definitely avoid this book.In reviewing this book, I found it hard to separate my views of the sixties from my views about the book. I hope I have succeeded. The book is comprised of photographic images done by Richard Avedon and snippets of interviews with many of the subjects done by Doon Arbus, daughter of photographer Diane Arbus. The people portrayed in the book include the more bizarre public figures of that age. Their photographs speak eloquently about their lives and mental states. Their words have a hard time being as eloquent, because many of the people had few thoughts. In evaluating the book, I saw two significant weaknesses. First, I looked for who was missing. The book nods much more heavily to the counterculture than to the main culture. As a result, the story of the Sixties is biased by its focus, and misses the opportunity for making more interesting comparisons. If I were to show this to my children (which I would not do because of the material in it), they would get a highly inaccurate view of the sixties. Second, I looked for the quality of the photography. Clearly, there were some great photographs, but there were lots of pretty ordinary ones. Combining these perspectives caused me to grade the book down one star. The best part of the book was some "before" and "after" photography and interviewing with Bob Dylan. The before and after photographs of Frank Zappa were also interesting. Had the volume developed this theme more, it would have been much more valuable. Those who were the counterculture icons of the age could tell us a lot about the sixties by describing how they have changed. Midst the images of race, war, protest, sex, drugs, and rock, I would be remiss if I did not point out which Avedon photographs moved me. These included images of Louise Nevelson, Dao Dua, Paul McCartney, Dorothy Day, George Wallace with Jimmy Davis (his valet), Cesar Chavez, James Baldwin, a Napalm victim, and Truman Capote. Avedon drew from their souls into mine very powerfully. These photographs were very impressive. In fact, they were so impressive that they made the others seem more bare and uninspiring, which was undoubtedly part of the editorial purpose. If you were alive during the sixties, I suggest that you create your own annotated scrapbook of that period to share with your children and grandchildren. They will be enriched by your sharing of the images that were important to you, and what you thought about those images then . . . and what you think about them now. In this way, you may be able to successful transmit what was good about the sixties while discouraging what was not so good. Peace now!
Rating: Summary: Watch out for back cover! Review: I ordered this book as a gift and found it completely unsuitable because of the photo on the backcover. The gift was intended for a father of 2 small children; he certainly would not want a book with a cover photo of a man with a vulgar word written on his forehead and making a vulgar gesture. Neither one of us is a prude, but this is something you don't want around children. I only wish that Amazon could let customers know what the back cover looks like in cases like this. I wasted money and time! I'm sure the inside content would have been interesting, but a coffee table book's cover--back AND front--need to be suitable for public consumption.
Rating: Summary: Not as good as "Evidence" or "An Autobiography" Review: I'm glad I was able to check this book out at my local library, because I would have been majorly dispared if I had to pay for this book. Once you go through the book you will notice that it is not as grabbing as either "Evidence" or "An Autoboigraphy. In fact much of the book can be found in the other Avedon book "An Autiobography." Overall I found the book to be boring and not up to the par that Richard Avedon is know for. The descriptions in the back of the various people and organizations are interesting but do not warrent the () price tag.
Rating: Summary: There IS photographic truth Review: Moments ago this book arrived in the mail. As I sat on my floor and opened it's pages, I came to the photograph of Dorothy Day. I suddenly was overcome and burst into tears. Not from sadness or melancholy or loss, but from the Beauty and Honesty in this picture. It is amazing at a time when we are deluged with images, images that are used to sell and and decieve, to look upon images that merely reveal. Reveal truths which lie in the hearts of men and women. Thank you Richard Avedon ( and Doon Arbus) for following your hearts and making these pictures. For having the faith to pursue them, even if it made no sense to at the time. I feel this book has drawn a line on the wall and said no less than this. As a photographer, as a human being... this book is reminder to find and tell THE TRUTH.
Rating: Summary: There IS photographic truth Review: Moments ago this book arrived in the mail. As I sat on my floor and opened it's pages, I came to the photograph of Dorothy Day. I suddenly was overcome and burst into tears. Not from sadness or melancholy or loss, but from the Beauty and Honesty in this picture. It is amazing at a time when we are deluged with images, images that are used to sell and and decieve, to look upon images that merely reveal. Reveal truths which lie in the hearts of men and women. Thank you Richard Avedon ( and Doon Arbus) for following your hearts and making these pictures. For having the faith to pursue them, even if it made no sense to at the time. I feel this book has drawn a line on the wall and said no less than this. As a photographer, as a human being... this book is reminder to find and tell THE TRUTH.
Rating: Summary: What a time, what a time...before we all melted... Review: Okay, forgive my purple prose. But this book seems to evoke that kind of emotion, filled as it is with images of people at their most open, their most shocking and their most vulnerable...and yes, their most naked. If you are offended by nudity or just plain horrorific images, pass this one by. But if you want a glimpse of the 60s in all its countercultural glory (and naivete), buy this one. Read it. Look at the images and hear the voices of some of the people who were considered icons of the time. It was truly the best and worst of times (stealing from Dickens). But also a courageous moment in our collective history. I'm thankful that Avedon took photos throughout these years.
Rating: Summary: Amazing potrayal of the sixties by Avedon Review: What I liked about this book is how Avedon capturing glimpse of sixties atmosphere into his photographs. In this book he includes many famous celebrities from musicians to actress. Although this book has full frontal nudity, horrifying image of impact of war, sex and drugs scenes, it's really portraying "the truth" about sixties.
The writings by Doon Arbus also related into Avedon's image, which is really helpful for the audience to understand what happened at those time period. If you really interested to know about rock and roll, politics and celebrities on the sixties, this book might be suited for you.
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