Andy Warhol, Poetry, and Gossip in the 1960s

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Summary: Warhol and writers
Review: Warhol is often portrayed in films and literature as a superficial, aloof, overtly homosexual artist. What is often overlooked is that Warhol was an intellectual. Reva Wolf does a wonderful job pointing this key factor out to the reader. Warhol was associated with some of the world's greatest writers. People like Kerouac and Dylan came to Warhol for a reason; Warhol offered them a world that was worth writing about. Wolf delves into Warhol and his relations with various writers. The factory scene is covered in that great detail is given to Gerard Malanga (who was often viewed as Warhol's sole intellectual). Gerard was an aspiring poet (much like many at The Factory) and Warhol was often spotted at various "happenings" listening to the current spill of contemporary poetry in the sixties. There are relatively few flaws in comparison to the overall book. Wolf provides the reader with several rare photographs. The clarity of some of them is slightly weak. Yet, the layout of the book is modern and a few of the photos catch Warhol fairly intimately. The entire book provides the reader with an intellectual perspective to viewing the life of Andy Warhol. Wolf proves that Warhol was more than his facade by addressing the gossip and writings that surrounded Warhol. Wolf does not attempt to explain the enigma which is Warhol, but merely gives a new angle in which to view. Anyone interested in Warhol and the intelligencia of the sixties must read this book. Wolf's book is a fabulous companion to The Andy Warhol Diaries and Popism.

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Summary: Trade Secrets
Review: Warhol was always a scene-maker. A neglected part of his c.v. is his social connection to the Lower East Side (East Village) movement of post-Beat, pre-Hippie, "Little Magazines." These were ephemeral, often hand printed on mimeo machines. Editor/publishers included poet & Factory member Gerard Malanga, Ted Berrigan, & Ed Sanders. Wolf makes a convincing case that Sanders' folk-rock group The Fugs, working out of Peace Eye bookstore, preceded the Velvet Underground as a muse for Warhol. This book explains how the lives of certain people in this scene were determined as a kind of Living Art with components of gossip, in-jokes, zen, amphetamines, social climbing, celebrity hankering, and semi-closeted homosexuality. Traces of these and other themes can be found in the art & writing of the time. A "Trade secret" of how to engage in a certain type of conceptual art, is detailed on pp. 40-41 of this book. A must read.