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Reading & Movie List
October 9, 2006 | by Heidi | Filed under
I thought I'd share what I've been reading, watching, and looking at this past week.
- Nobuyoshi Araki: Self, Life, Death
I picked up this 700+ page, limited edition last recently. It is one of the most comprehensive looks at Nobuyoshi Araki's body of work over the past forty years. And although he is an iconic national celebrity in his native Japan, he is not as well known here in the United States. My first encounter with Araki's flower shots prompted me to explore his photography more deeply and I eventually discovered a vein of his work that brought forth a lush, saturated, and lucid world of food photography - this book contains a selection of these shots. I find much of Araki's photography challenging. He deals with themes ranging from life, death, power and loss to sex, navigating extremes, physicality, and personality. Some call him a genius (Araki considers himself a genius), others consider him a misogynistic pornographer. I suppose it is possible to be both.
- Sketches of Frank Gehry (DVD)
Everyone has a different creative process and I love catching glimpses into the way other people get inspired. Last night I watched a documentary made about architect Frank Gehry made by Gehry's longtime friend filmmaker Sydney Pollack. It provided an intimate look at the life, work, and creative process of one of architecture's biggest risk-takers. The film honed in on Gehry's process, point of view, inspirations, and general disposition. The other thing I liked was that it successfully captured a casual, conversational warmth that Gehry also exudes in person. Recommended.
Salk Institute in La Jolla, California. Architect Louis Kahn.
- And while I'm on the subject of creativity and architecture I'll mention another fantastic documentary made by Nathaniel Kahn about his father, architect Louis Kahn, titled My Architect. One of Louis Kahn's buildings made a indelible impression on me when I was going to college. The Salk Institute was just a short walk from where I was living and it was the building that helped me understand buildings. You could watch the mood and personality of the Salk Institute change everyday based on the light, the weather, and the way people interacted with it. I've always wondered what the people who have worked there thought of the building. A few more images here.
Julie Christie and George C. Scott in Petulia
- Petulia (DVD)
This 1968 San Francisco-centric movie starring Julie Christie and George C. Scott just made my all-time-favorites list. How did I not know about this movie until now? A couple other reviews here and here.
- The Ballad of Big Mike in last weekend's New York Times Magazine.
- Honey from a Weed: Fasting and Feasting in Tuscany, Catalonia, the Cyclades and Apulia by Patience Gray. I told my friend Pam that I was going on a quick trip to Puglia, Italy next month (for an Oldways conference) and she promptly loaned me a copy of this classic.
- And lastly, I just cracked the cover on this Madhur Jaffrey memoir - Climbing the Mango Trees: A Memoir of a Childhood in India. I'm looking forward to making my way through the book and a few of the recipes bundled at the end.
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HG said:Should you ever get an opportunity to see Gehry's models, jump on it. They are perfectly fascinating, using all kinds of odd materials (red velvet, crumpled paper, a folded and cut soda can).
Thanks for the Araki recommendation; I can't wait to see it.
What a fantastic collection of reviews - some of them have been added to my "must watch/read" list.
I'll have to check out your picks. But what about watching Lost or the Office on TV like the rest of us unsophisticated oafs?
Honey From a Weed is a must-read for anyone interested in Mediterranean cuisine. It's considered the best cookbook of that region, even above Paula Wolfert.
I've never heard of this photographer--Araki. I've created a link to your post on my blog so I can share with my readers as well. That top photo is so amazing. So much good stuff-thanks for sharing!
I've heard so much about "My architect." Thank you for recommending it - it's now on my list of to-see! hopefully it can be found @ tha local Blockbuster...!
I loved Petulia [when I first saw it]. I guess that dates me. ;-) I'm glad it's on DVD. And the Gehry doc is on my Netflix for next week. Can't wait! Italy? I'm so jealous!
Heidi - lovely collection indeed, and Louis Kahn is one of my heroes :) Loved the film also, very moving.
Being an architecture student, I hear all about Kahn and Gehry. I agree, the Kahn film is excellent, very touching, even for those who aren't interested or don't know about architecture. I haven't seen the Gehry film, but he's an interesting figure, regardless of what you think of his buildings.
Once I was at the Salk, marvelling over the channels pictured here, and he walked by and said hi...Dr. Salk, that is. Imagine. Thank you for including this picture, this memory...
Thanks for the link.
"Petulia" is one that got by me as well until this year, mainly because of its scarcity in America in any format. It's kind of a difficult movie for the first 20 minutes - a viewer needs a bit of time to adapt to its peculiar rhythm - which can be off-putting for some American audiences.
But it's conceptually brilliant, a terrific introduction to the fractured style of Nicholas Roeg, and the last 20 minutes or so packs a serious emotional wallop.
Ahh "Climbing The Mango Trees" .... it is a very interesting memoir and anyone who comes from that subcontinent can relate to actually climbing mango trees during the hot summers while our mums and grandmums made the yearly supply of different pickles .. the air rife with the smell of tart, raw green mangoes. I have started on another similar one just last week called "Monsoon Diary" by Shobha Narayan. It is beautiful and might interest you!!
You've just sold a copy of the Jaffrey book. I'll start with that, and maybe work in a few of your other picks!
I love Honey from a Weed, its my favorite.
Aggghhhh!!... as if I haven't already got enough in my reading pile without these interesting choices... will definitely look up Araki ... new to me.
Have you seen the Guggenheim in Bilbao? Extraordinary creation ... apparently Gehry got some of his inspiration for it from childhood memories of watching carp swimming in his grandmother's bathtub...(I know that sounds odd... I'll have to go away and find out where I read that...)
I am a documentary nut and love getting good suggestions. I've added your selections to my Netflix queue and I'm particularly excited about the Gehry flick.
Thanks for the info on Kahn & Gehry - my stepson is a new architect, and these are now on my Christmas list for him! Great idea, Heidi.
You must have gone to UCSD!
I stumblied upon your site while checking my gmail. It was one of the ads at the top. I think your blog is really nifty and felt a connection when I read about the documentary My Architect. That is a great film. I'm going to have to check out Petulia!
Thanks for the good content :)
Selective taste you have not only for food..
I love photography ..Araki is considered the andy Warhol of Japan...criticized often for the sexual content of his work, he should be understood as an innovator in a society quite circumspect and reserved, instead.
I didn't know Climbing the Mango Trees and I will take note.Thank You!
Cheers!
veganite! said:LOVED "sketches of frank gehry!" thanks for the review!
I love Honey from a Weed, its my favorite.
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