Weegee Famous

For reasons that are forever mysterious, certain works of art become iconic, forever memorable. They become "more than the sum of their parts." They may not be intrinsically brilliant or great creations but they contain a magic that propels them into common memory. 

Think of the Mona Lisa: it's a simple portrait of a women giving a slight smile -- and it's the most famous painting in history.

Why? Who knows? 

Certain works of art just capture a je ne sais quoi that they achieve icon status. And that's true of this picture by the NYC photographer "Weegee" (nee Arthur Fellig) taken in 1943 outside the old Metropolitan Opera House:

It's two socialites being observed with disgust by a female hobo. That's it. But it neatly sums up economic inequality -- making this 75 year old photo more relevant today than ever.

So who was Weegee, the man who took it? And what's the story behind this picture?

Weegee was a photographer from the Lower East Side who basically invented the idea of "crime photography." His searing pictures of crime scenes become infamous in 1930s and 1940s  NYC newspapers. Then he turned his attention to street scenes, capturing poverty and economic displacement. That effort culminated in this photo that Time Magazine dubbed one of the Most Influential Photographs of All Time. 

And it's a fake -- Weegee was a bit of a rascal and he totally staged this picture. The hobo in the picture is someone he found on the Lower East Side, got completely drunk, and then positioned next to these two ladies outside the opera house. 

Needless to say, his gambit paid off: he got the picture, got it published, and it become famous.

And now there's a big new biography about him telling his whole life story -- just because he took (i.e. staged) this picture.

Goes to show, you never know how -- or if -- you'll be remembered, and what works of art will make their creators famous.

Je. Ne, Sais. Quoi.

Fire at Citi Field!!!!

Does Tom Wolfe's "Radical Chic" Hold Up?

Ever since the writer Tom Wolfe died a couple of weeks ago, many of his fellow scribes have been going back over his work, remembering what made the man in the white suit such a journalistic trailblazer.

One of the things that fashioned Wolfe's legend is his 1970 article "Radical Chic: That Party At Lenny's." 

Written in deeply cynical, highly detailed observational prose, it's an account of a fundraiser for the Black Panthers held in conductor Leonard Bernstein's Dakota apartment. Wolfe (and others) crashed the event and greatly enjoyed writing about the incongruity of the world's most famous conductor and other elite cultural machers hanging out with a bunch of big, tough bearded black militants.

At the time, the story caused a stir. This was a classic example of "limousine liberalism", liberal hypocrisy, run amok. Conservatives loved it (including the Nixon White House), and the rest of American didn't care. But in NYC journalistic circles, it was a smash because, as a piece of reporting, it was spot on. 

Much of a fan as I am of Wolfe's other work, "Radical Chic" doesn't hold up so well today. As a piece of writing, it's still a strong example of journalistic craftsmanship but it's morality, by 21st century standards is ... less strong. 

It's snarky, sneering, and, yes, racist. 

It's an example of white privilege at its finest -- a white man mocking a bunch of Jews trying to help a bunch "scary" black guys. It's tone is vicious, full of hate in the guise of amused irony. But, because it's so well-written, it's almost easy to overlook this.

In short, "Radical Chic" is like an Americanized "Triumph of the Will": ugly politics, very well-produced.

So, sadly, this article just doesn't hold up. Something that was once a comment on its time is now a dated artifact of another time. (The fact that the Nixon White House (pre-Watergate) liked it should tell you something.) 

You should read the whole article to see what I'm taking about.

And, if you want more of the history of this article, read this. 

Women.nyc

There's a new website the city government has recently launched designed to improve the lives of NYC women: Women.nyc

It's a search engine that aggregates all of the city's programs and services that assist women in their lives. It helps them find jobs and apartments, start businesses, get legal and financial help as well as access to child services.

Sounds good. If you're an NYC woman, check it out! 

Gotta Love New Yorkers

Rudy got booed at Yankee Stadium when the announcer tried to wish him "Happy Birthday." 

New Yorkers weren't having it and reacted accordingly -- you know, working for a fascist president and being a generally horrible human being kinda rubs us the wrong way.

 

Harvey Weinstein Does the Perp Walk

So it finally happened: Harvey Weinstein was arrested. 

What's outrageous is that it took so long, that he was allowed to "surrender" to police instead of the cops breaking down his door, tackling him to the ground, slapping him with cuffs, and throwing him in a police car. If he'd been, oh, you know, black, poor, or a regular person, that's what would've happened. Show's how power and money still rule even when in disgrace -- and jail.

That said, seeing Weinstein in cuffs certainly is something that many people never imagined would happen. Let's hope that his victims, and all victims of sexual abuse, feel a little bit more peace today.

 What's ironic is that, at the same time Weinstein is facing justice, one of Mia Farrow's children, Moses, is coming forward to strongly dispute the charges against Woody Allen. 

Moses writes a long, thorough explanation of how the crime Woody is accused of couldn't have happened, how he and his siblings were abused by Mia, and how he feels that Woody is being unfairly lumped in with obvious monsters like Weinstein. It's a powerful piece -- and, strangely, it's led to Moses getting attacked in just the same manner that many people who speak up about sexual abuse are attacked. Moses is stating that he and his siblings were abused -- and he's being told that he's a liar, that it didn't happen, etc. 

This is sad.

ALL abuse claims must be taken seriously and investigated (like Woody was, and he was cleared), and the truth must come out and be accepted. To call anyone a liar is wrong -- until we know the truth.

Fleet Week in NYC

The Subway Story

When you look at a map of the NYC subway, that goulash of color lines, there's always a little voice in the back of your head asking, "How the hell did the subways wind up like this?"

In short: business.

Before the MTA took complete control, the subways were a collection of different private companies that ran service through different parts of the city. You might recognize some of the names: the IRT, BMT, BRT, IND, etc. The subway lines evolved, not in an organic, planned, logical manner, but in ways the padded the bottom lines for these companies. There was competition and collusion, big plans for various subways lines that includes stories of false starts, incomplete construction, and outright abandonment.

And, of course, there was the Great Depression.

Most of the subway was built in the early 20th century but, when the Depression hit, the money for new construction dried up. Then, of course, there was the Second World War, halting further construction. And, of course, there was Robert Moses, the powerful city planner who believed that highways and cars were the future of NYC, not more subway lines.

It's a wild story of money, politics, egos, and historical events -- and millions of New Yorkers grapple with the legacy of that every day in their commutes. 

Tish James for AG

Public Advocate Tish James is running for New York State Attorney General this year and appears to be the prohibitive favorite. She's a racked up endorsements and support, and appears to be, at the moment, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination. 

Tish is a successful lawyer, city councilwoman, and now Public Advocate. I saw her at a forum several years ago and her fierce intelligence blazed through. Tish is a smart, driven woman, and the state'll be lucky to have her as AG.

But not only will she have to win the election but, as a black woman running for high office, she'll have to put up with tons of ... crap. 

Like this article from Politico: supposedly a comprehensive look at her career, it's in fact a hatchet job, a snarky and mean-spirited attack on her qualifications and motives. It accuses her accomplishing nothing (while, bizarrely at the same time, acknowledges that several bills she's sponsored), of lying, of being a cypher.

It's an absolutely vicious, hateful smear-job, and I can't imagine a white male politician (and certainly not a Republican) ever having to deal with something like this. Certainly the press hasn't been this tough on Trump or Cuomo as they are on Tish James. 

If you ever wonder if black people, and women, and black women in particular, have it tougher trying to climb the "greasy pole" of power, this article should leave you with no doubts.  

Interview Magazine, RIP

Andy Warhol was the first true multi-media artist: he painted pictures, made movies, produced bands, staged events -- and even started a magazine.

Called Interview, it debuted in 1969, and did for celebrity culture what its contemporary Rolling Stone did for rock'n'roll  -- namely, enshrine it with journalistic, literary respectability.

Famous for its of portrait-like covers of celebrities, Interview gave a high-end gloss to pop culture news. If you wanted to know what was going on in pop culture, who and what was "in" or "out" Interview told you.

Warhol died in 1987 but Interview continued -- until today. After months and months of turmoil -- lawsuits, harassment allegations,  bankruptcy -- it closed. Yet another part of old NYC gone away.

It's sad because, if the reports are to be believed, this didn't have to happen. It sounds like bad business decisions and a toxic culture led to the magazine's demise. There's nothing sadder than people charged with maintaining a legacy messing it up.

I'm sure Andy is weeping in heaven.