Hacker Cinema
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child
2010 · Film · documentary · 88 min
Directed by Tamra Davis
A thoughtful portrait of a renowned artist, this documentary shines the spotlight on New York City painter Jean-Michel Basquiat. Featuring extensive interviews conducted by Basquiat's friend, filmmaker Tamra Davis, the production reveals how he dealt with being a black artist in a predominantly white field. The film also explores Basquiat's rise in the art world, which led to a close relationship with Andy Warhol, and looks at how the young painter coped with acclaim, scrutiny and fame.
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2 comments on Hacker News
As some others have noted, having context for the art will deepen your understanding of it, which might make you appreciate it more or maybe even appreciate it less. Either way it'll help lead you into the work.
For an artist like Jean-Michel Basquiat it's especially important to understand it in the context of what it meant for a young black man to create art in an art world that was (and is still) predominately white. Keeping that in mind, take a look at the "Untitled (Rinso)" work that is shown in the article. Rinso was a brand of soap that introduced a blue powder in the 1950s and had advertisements that would say things like "Whiter Washing" with smiling blonde women. You have his infamous crown icon, with "No Suh No Suh" under it. All of these elements can help lead you to see the commentary he's making.
There was a documentary a number of years ago about him called "The Radiant Child", which might be a good place to start.
You will find many different films if you like some of the 80's pop icons you might like this documentary on Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1568335/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1)