Songs of Innocence artwork

[Koke-dera]

So, here's what I'll say - you know the background of the people in the picture - father and son and that they love each other, and you can always come back to that. But, and Larry please stand up in an interview and hit me like a drum if I'm off the mark, three other things 1) it echoes the cover of Boy that was treated as both an image of innocence and a sexual image 2) honesty - if "Sleep Like a Baby Tonight" is about paedophile priests, this reflects that idea as well -- you can bury that idea for whatever reason but burying it is part of the problem is it not? if you can't talk about the image honestly as representing that, how are survivors ever supposed to, so they can seek help if needed? 3) my immediate impression is that it is similar to Maplethorpe (cam - maybe you can do an art page on him?) who faced controversy over his photographs that in some ways came down to is it some form of perversion? or is it love? you might note that Maplethorpe was a friend of Patti Smith and photographed her for her album covers (including the one with the Sinatra pose), and, of course, she won the National Book Award for Just Kids - her tale of growing up with him, which I'd suggest people seek out.

 

"For art sings of God, and ultimately belongs to him" - Patti Smith

[jenmusic]

 

I just think its ment to be photographed this way. Art is on this world to raise discussion. Everybody sees something else! Look at artists like van Gogh. He sold only one painting in his living years. He was way ahead of his time. His work got very famous after his death... In his living years he was very poor and couldn't convince anyone to sell his paintings. Other people didn't think he was that good...  

 

I can see the innocence in the work of the photographer. Thinking about the early days. I really like it. (I really love black and white photography) But I also understand that some people see something else in it. Thats just a part of who we are

 

 

Good point Jen, art is subjective, probably a good thing we see it in different ways, that is the nature of art, open to individual interpretation - I didn't think of it like that  . The fact that's it's causing discussion already is perhaps a positive sign for a piece of artwork.

 

Yes thats exactly what I meant! If you see a picture/painting it definitely has a multiple opinions. For example there is this person in my class.. the only thing he photographs is a particular part of a forest. Always the same place but every time with a different story behind it. The story behind someones work is just as important, I think  

[tan_lejos_tan_cerca]

 

 

 Larry is the father and he could be protecting him but he's also hugging his son as if Larry was a child, 

 

so this is why Larry is kneeling down?  I would think when one adult hugs another adult, both should be standing.   However, when  my 9 year old niece gives me a hug, her face is against my stomach because she is not as tall as I am.  So I could see him kneeling down for this matter.

 

I don't know why Larry is kneeling down, maybe it was just casual while they were shooting different pictures, or maybe someone suggested it. It just made me think about that. Also, it could be possible that they made it intentionally, so they could cut Larry's son face in the picture, probably to keep his privacy a little.

 

I know that some men don't feel comfortable showing affection to this sons because of their education,because men are sometimes taught to not to show their feelings. I respect them, but I find it so very beautiful and healthty. It is really an intimate photograph, for me it just shows one of the deepest forms of love, from a father to his son.

 

Also, being a judoka I guess I have no fear of "touching" lol.

[febottini]

If it weren't men giving a hug, would you mind it?

 

If it wasn't Larry, would you mind it?

 

Just think on that.

 

 

Larry doesn't show his feelings so much in public. Many fans describe him as serious or shy, whatever... so for me that's the point. We're not used to see him at this way, so naked and open to the audience. I'm sure he's a great guy among family and friends but sometimes people have a different opinion about him because he's been always reserved, specially with his family. I think he was very brave to take this photo and to show his affection to Elvis in public.

[tan_lejos_tan_cerca]

So, here's what I'll say - you know the background of the people in the picture - father and son and that they love each other, and you can always come back to that. But, and Larry please stand up in an interview and hit me like a drum if I'm off the mark, three other things 1) it echoes the cover of Boy that was treated as both an image of innocence and a sexual image 2) honesty - if "Sleep Like a Baby Tonight" is about paedophile priests, this reflects that idea as well -- you can bury that idea for whatever reason but burying it is part of the problem is it not? if you can't talk about the image honestly as representing that, how are survivors ever supposed to, so they can seek help if needed? 3) my immediate impression is that it is similar to Maplethorpe (cam - maybe you can do an art page on him?) who faced controversy over his photographs that in some ways came down to is it some form of perversion? or is it love? you might note that Maplethorpe was a friend of Patti Smith and photographed her for her album covers (including the one with the Sinatra pose), and, of course, she won the National Book Award for Just Kids - her tale of growing up with him, which I'd suggest people seek out.

 

"For art sings of God, and ultimately belongs to him" - Patti Smith

[tan_lejos_tan_cerca]

 

 

I just think its ment to be photographed this way. Art is on this world to raise discussion. Everybody sees something else! Look at artists like van Gogh. He sold only one painting in his living years. He was way ahead of his time. His work got very famous after his death... In his living years he was very poor and couldn't convince anyone to sell his paintings. Other people didn't think he was that good...  

 

I can see the innocence in the work of the photographer. Thinking about the early days. I really like it. (I really love black and white photography) But I also understand that some people see something else in it. Thats just a part of who we are

 

 

Good point Jen, art is subjective, probably a good thing we see it in different ways, that is the nature of art, open to individual interpretation - I didn't think of it like that  . The fact that's it's causing discussion already is perhaps a positive sign for a piece of artwork.

 

Yes thats exactly what I meant! If you see a picture/painting it definitely has a multiple opinions. For example there is this person in my class.. the only thing he photographs is a particular part of a forest. Always the same place but every time with a different story behind it. The story behind someones work is just as important, I think

 

[tan_lejos_tan_cerca]

If it weren't men giving a hug, would you mind it?

 

If it wasn't Larry, would you mind it?

 

Just think on that.

 

 

Larry doesn't show his feelings so much in public. Many fans describe him as serious or shy, whatever... so for me that's the point. We're not used to see him at this way, so naked and open to the audience. I'm sure he's a great guy among family and friends but sometimes people have a different opinion about him because he's been always reserved, specially with his family. I think he was very brave to take this photo and to show his affection to Elvis in public.

I was just thinking something like that

[chris1043]

If it weren't men giving a hug, would you mind it?

 

If it wasn't Larry, would you mind it?

 

Just think on that.

 

 

Larry doesn't show his feelings so much in public. Many fans describe him as serious or shy, whatever... so for me that's the point. We're not used to see him at this way, so naked and open to the audience. I'm sure he's a great guy among family and friends but sometimes people have a different opinion about him because he's been always reserved, specially with his family. I think he was very brave to take this photo and to show his affection to Elvis in public.

I assume his son's name is Elvis?  Now I have to Google if there is another famous person named Elvis.   Nice name though  (but not that it matters, Jon Bon Jovi named his son after Jesse James).  And Gwnyth Paltrow and the Coldplay guy named their daughter Apple....  sorry to have digressed here, but I had to.

Edited September 26, 2014 by chris1043

[chris1043]

If it weren't men giving a hug, would you mind it?

 

If it wasn't Larry, would you mind it?

 

Just think on that.

 

 

 

 

VERY good point.  Yeah, I'd think if it was the same type of album artwork coming from a different band, I'd think it's very odd.

[Anjana]

 

If it weren't men giving a hug, would you mind it?

 

If it wasn't Larry, would you mind it?

 

Just think on that.

 

 

Larry doesn't show his feelings so much in public. Many fans describe him as serious or shy, whatever... so for me that's the point. We're not used to see him at this way, so naked and open to the audience. I'm sure he's a great guy among family and friends but sometimes people have a different opinion about him because he's been always reserved, specially with his family. I think he was very brave to take this photo and to show his affection to Elvis in public.

I assume his son's name is Elvis?

 

 

 

Yes! I don't really keep up with the names of their children and family stuff and initially I was like 'heh' cos I'd forgotten he had a son called Elvis!!!