Unconventional Dreams: Just Kids
Nov 06, 2023, 01:50 AM
Chapter 1:Summary of the Just Kids
"Just Kids" is a memoir written by Patti Smith, an American poet, artist, and musician. The book depicts her time in New York City during the late 1960s and 1970s, specifically focusing on her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.
Smith describes her early life in New Jersey and her artistic aspirations, which drew her to New York City. She details her struggles to make ends meet, as she moves from one apartment to another, often living in poverty. During this time, she meets Mapplethorpe, and they quickly develop a deep connection, both emotionally and artistically.
The book explores their bohemian lifestyle and the creative underground scene they were a part of, rubbing shoulders with famous musicians, artists, and writers of the time. Smith delves into Mapplethorpe's exploration of his own sexuality and his eventual coming to terms with being gay.
Smith also discusses her own journey as an artist, recounting her early experiments with poetry and music, as well as her eventual success as a punk rock musician. She reflects on the challenges of balancing her art and personal life, as well as the impact that Mapplethorpe's death from AIDS in 1989 had on her.
"Just Kids" is not just a story of two artists finding their way, but also a tribute to the artistic spirit and the importance of friendship and love. Smith captures the vibrancy and excitement of the time, while also reflecting on the loss and destruction that often comes with artistic pursuits.
The book won numerous awards, including the National Book Award for Nonfiction, and has been praised for its lyrical prose, vivid imagery, and intimate portrayal of two iconic artists. It is a testament to the power of creativity and the enduring bond between kindred spirits.
Chapter 2:the meaning of the Just Kids
"Just Kids" is a memoir written by Patti Smith, where she chronicles her relationship with the artist Robert Mapplethorpe and their experiences living and working as struggling artists in New York City during the 1960s and 1970s.
The title "Just Kids" refers to the innocence and idealism shared by Smith and Mapplethorpe during their formative years as young artists. The book explores their deep friendship, creative partnership, and the challenges they faced in pursuing their artistic aspirations.
The memoir delves into the bohemian atmosphere of the era, capturing the vibrant and chaotic art scene of New York City, as well as the rebellious spirit and countercultural movements that defined the period. Their experiences with poverty, love, loss, and self-discovery are depicted, highlighting the transformative power of art and the determination required to follow one's dreams.
Moreover, "Just Kids" can also be seen as a tribute to the enduring power of friendship and the enduring impact of creative collaborations. It emphasizes the significance of supporting and inspiring one another in the pursuit of artistic expression, while also exploring themes of love, sacrifice, and the sacrifices made for art.
Overall, "Just Kids" is a reflection on youth, art, friendship, and the challenges of finding one's place in the world. It is a heartfelt and nostalgic portrayal of two young artists navigating their way through the cultural mecca of New York City and the lasting impact they had on each other's lives.
Chapter 3:the Just Kids chapters
"Just Kids" by Patti Smith is a memoir that tells the story of her friendship and artistic partnership with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in New York City during the late 1960s and 1970s. The book is divided into several chapters, each highlighting different periods and experiences in Smith's and Mapplethorpe's lives.
Chapter 1: Brooklyn of Our Lady
In this chapter, Smith introduces her upbringing in a working-class family in New Jersey and her troubled childhood. She expresses her desire to escape her small town and pursue her dreams in the vibrant art scene of New York City.
Chapter 2: The Hotel Chelsea
Smith arrives in New York City and moves into the Hotel Chelsea, a famous artistic hub. She describes her first encounters with other poets, musicians, and artists living in the hotel.
Chapter 3: Not Shy at All
Smith meets Robert Mapplethorpe at a park and they strike up an immediate connection. She recounts the early days of their friendship and the challenges they faced as struggling artists.
Chapter 4: Chelsea Girls
Smith and Mapplethorpe become more involved in the artistic scene at the Chelsea Hotel. They encounter Andy Warhol, Janis Joplin, and other influential figures, and Smith discusses her own growing interest in poetry and performance.
Chapter 5: Hotel Chelsea Chills
Smith and Mapplethorpe struggle financially but are determined to pursue their artistic dreams. They support each other's work and collaborate on projects, while also dealing with personal struggles and exploring their identities.
Chapter 6: The Internationale
Smith spends time at the Factory, Warhol's famous studio, and becomes an assistant to Sam Shepard. She recalls her experiences working with Shepard and the impact it had on her personal and artistic development.
Chapter 7: Raphael and Andy
Mapplethorpe begins to explore his interest in photography and Smith witnesses his growing talent. They visit the Museum of Modern Art and encounter Raphael, an aspiring artist who becomes part of their circle.
Chapter 8: Postscript for Robert Maplethorpe
This chapter takes place after Mapplethorpe's death. Smith reflects on their relationship, their early struggles, and the impact Mapplethorpe's art had on the world. She discusses her grief and the lasting legacy of their friendship.
Chapter 9: Severe Mercy
Smith concludes her memoir by discussing her own artistic achievements and the journey she has taken since Mapplethorpe's death. She reflects on the importance of their friendship and the impact it had on shaping her as an artist.
These chapter summaries provide a brief overview, but each chapter features rich anecdotes, personal reflections, and a deeper exploration of Smith's and Mapplethorpe's lives during this period.
Chapter 4: Quotes of the Just Kids
1. "I was asleep when he died, having stayed up all night at his bedside. When I woke up, just as he was dying, it was a moment of grace, and there it was -- death -- a reminder that everything ends."
2. "The transformation of my life commenced in this little room -- 25, rue Tourlaque. It was a boarding house run by the Catholic Church, and a refuge for the poor and the lost, near Montparnasse."
3. "In those early years, we were all sponges, soaking up everything we could, living with an artistic greed that remained with us for the rest of our lives."
4. "I had a hunger for righteousness and no means to support it. This was the era of televised protest, and I was hungry for justice as a plow horse longs for a carrot just beyond his reach."
5. "Poetry and painting, music and photography, they were the ways we expressed our intense and muddled pleasures and concerns -- the alternatives to sanctioned ways of saying, doing, thinking."
6. "Life has no meaning unless one lives it with a will, at least to the limit of one's will. Virtue, good, evil are nothing but words, unless one takes them apart in order to build something with them; they have no weight, unless one gives them one's own weight."
7. "To be recognized as an artist was the hope, and the dream, but to be loved like a true friend was like being granted a special prize."
8. "This was no punk romance, but it was dark and mythic and possessed of its own humor and integrity, and for the first time in my life I was living my art starkly, boldly, unashamedly."
9. "Artists and writers sought each other out, physical beauty being a common ground. Ginevra, with her thick blond hair and blue eyes, was considered by the artists to be their perfect muse."
10. "We were dependent on each other in our outcast state, freed from society's expectations, burned clean of all assumptions. We were each other's teachers, tormentors, confessors, possessors."
"Just Kids" is a memoir written by Patti Smith, an American poet, artist, and musician. The book depicts her time in New York City during the late 1960s and 1970s, specifically focusing on her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.
Smith describes her early life in New Jersey and her artistic aspirations, which drew her to New York City. She details her struggles to make ends meet, as she moves from one apartment to another, often living in poverty. During this time, she meets Mapplethorpe, and they quickly develop a deep connection, both emotionally and artistically.
The book explores their bohemian lifestyle and the creative underground scene they were a part of, rubbing shoulders with famous musicians, artists, and writers of the time. Smith delves into Mapplethorpe's exploration of his own sexuality and his eventual coming to terms with being gay.
Smith also discusses her own journey as an artist, recounting her early experiments with poetry and music, as well as her eventual success as a punk rock musician. She reflects on the challenges of balancing her art and personal life, as well as the impact that Mapplethorpe's death from AIDS in 1989 had on her.
"Just Kids" is not just a story of two artists finding their way, but also a tribute to the artistic spirit and the importance of friendship and love. Smith captures the vibrancy and excitement of the time, while also reflecting on the loss and destruction that often comes with artistic pursuits.
The book won numerous awards, including the National Book Award for Nonfiction, and has been praised for its lyrical prose, vivid imagery, and intimate portrayal of two iconic artists. It is a testament to the power of creativity and the enduring bond between kindred spirits.
Chapter 2:the meaning of the Just Kids
"Just Kids" is a memoir written by Patti Smith, where she chronicles her relationship with the artist Robert Mapplethorpe and their experiences living and working as struggling artists in New York City during the 1960s and 1970s.
The title "Just Kids" refers to the innocence and idealism shared by Smith and Mapplethorpe during their formative years as young artists. The book explores their deep friendship, creative partnership, and the challenges they faced in pursuing their artistic aspirations.
The memoir delves into the bohemian atmosphere of the era, capturing the vibrant and chaotic art scene of New York City, as well as the rebellious spirit and countercultural movements that defined the period. Their experiences with poverty, love, loss, and self-discovery are depicted, highlighting the transformative power of art and the determination required to follow one's dreams.
Moreover, "Just Kids" can also be seen as a tribute to the enduring power of friendship and the enduring impact of creative collaborations. It emphasizes the significance of supporting and inspiring one another in the pursuit of artistic expression, while also exploring themes of love, sacrifice, and the sacrifices made for art.
Overall, "Just Kids" is a reflection on youth, art, friendship, and the challenges of finding one's place in the world. It is a heartfelt and nostalgic portrayal of two young artists navigating their way through the cultural mecca of New York City and the lasting impact they had on each other's lives.
Chapter 3:the Just Kids chapters
"Just Kids" by Patti Smith is a memoir that tells the story of her friendship and artistic partnership with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in New York City during the late 1960s and 1970s. The book is divided into several chapters, each highlighting different periods and experiences in Smith's and Mapplethorpe's lives.
Chapter 1: Brooklyn of Our Lady
In this chapter, Smith introduces her upbringing in a working-class family in New Jersey and her troubled childhood. She expresses her desire to escape her small town and pursue her dreams in the vibrant art scene of New York City.
Chapter 2: The Hotel Chelsea
Smith arrives in New York City and moves into the Hotel Chelsea, a famous artistic hub. She describes her first encounters with other poets, musicians, and artists living in the hotel.
Chapter 3: Not Shy at All
Smith meets Robert Mapplethorpe at a park and they strike up an immediate connection. She recounts the early days of their friendship and the challenges they faced as struggling artists.
Chapter 4: Chelsea Girls
Smith and Mapplethorpe become more involved in the artistic scene at the Chelsea Hotel. They encounter Andy Warhol, Janis Joplin, and other influential figures, and Smith discusses her own growing interest in poetry and performance.
Chapter 5: Hotel Chelsea Chills
Smith and Mapplethorpe struggle financially but are determined to pursue their artistic dreams. They support each other's work and collaborate on projects, while also dealing with personal struggles and exploring their identities.
Chapter 6: The Internationale
Smith spends time at the Factory, Warhol's famous studio, and becomes an assistant to Sam Shepard. She recalls her experiences working with Shepard and the impact it had on her personal and artistic development.
Chapter 7: Raphael and Andy
Mapplethorpe begins to explore his interest in photography and Smith witnesses his growing talent. They visit the Museum of Modern Art and encounter Raphael, an aspiring artist who becomes part of their circle.
Chapter 8: Postscript for Robert Maplethorpe
This chapter takes place after Mapplethorpe's death. Smith reflects on their relationship, their early struggles, and the impact Mapplethorpe's art had on the world. She discusses her grief and the lasting legacy of their friendship.
Chapter 9: Severe Mercy
Smith concludes her memoir by discussing her own artistic achievements and the journey she has taken since Mapplethorpe's death. She reflects on the importance of their friendship and the impact it had on shaping her as an artist.
These chapter summaries provide a brief overview, but each chapter features rich anecdotes, personal reflections, and a deeper exploration of Smith's and Mapplethorpe's lives during this period.
Chapter 4: Quotes of the Just Kids
1. "I was asleep when he died, having stayed up all night at his bedside. When I woke up, just as he was dying, it was a moment of grace, and there it was -- death -- a reminder that everything ends."
2. "The transformation of my life commenced in this little room -- 25, rue Tourlaque. It was a boarding house run by the Catholic Church, and a refuge for the poor and the lost, near Montparnasse."
3. "In those early years, we were all sponges, soaking up everything we could, living with an artistic greed that remained with us for the rest of our lives."
4. "I had a hunger for righteousness and no means to support it. This was the era of televised protest, and I was hungry for justice as a plow horse longs for a carrot just beyond his reach."
5. "Poetry and painting, music and photography, they were the ways we expressed our intense and muddled pleasures and concerns -- the alternatives to sanctioned ways of saying, doing, thinking."
6. "Life has no meaning unless one lives it with a will, at least to the limit of one's will. Virtue, good, evil are nothing but words, unless one takes them apart in order to build something with them; they have no weight, unless one gives them one's own weight."
7. "To be recognized as an artist was the hope, and the dream, but to be loved like a true friend was like being granted a special prize."
8. "This was no punk romance, but it was dark and mythic and possessed of its own humor and integrity, and for the first time in my life I was living my art starkly, boldly, unashamedly."
9. "Artists and writers sought each other out, physical beauty being a common ground. Ginevra, with her thick blond hair and blue eyes, was considered by the artists to be their perfect muse."
10. "We were dependent on each other in our outcast state, freed from society's expectations, burned clean of all assumptions. We were each other's teachers, tormentors, confessors, possessors."