Just Pictures

Matching pictures to scenes, events and values seems like creating a whole new understanding "milieu". It revives the imagination and gives a perspective through which we can look at stories - mostly of youth - with a different angle.
The main focus of the photos I chose are about Just Kids by Patti Smith.

Scene from the movie Requiem for a Dream

The relationship between Marion and Harry is very similar to that of Patti and Robert. Both couples begin with extraordinary love followed by symbiosis to reach shared dreams and goals and kind of breaking apart towards the end.

First Holy communion. Credits: National Humanities Center

Growing up in the fifties, Patti Smith had religion as a major part of her life, similarly for her parents and society in general. Youth, at that time, were influenced by religion, and this picture is an example.

Good Bye My Love by Bumi Manusia

This picture is as mysterious as Patti's eruptive spiritual poems. Combining questionings about choices, family or relationships, Patti Smith surprises her readers and herself with the depth of her reflections.

Credits: Taeyoon Choi

The photo above might spark some ideas surrounding the possible known - if any - real use of art. Patti Smith questions herself about what is art for, and this plays with her perspectives, temporarily.

Train tracks separating

This picture summarizes the second last chapter of Just Kids. Although both Patti and Robert are taking separate ways in their careers and personal lives, they still want to achieve greatness: they still are trains reaching specific destinations.

Credits: Hayley Gleeson

   This sums up Patti Smith's trip to Paris: alone, lost in poetry and literature.

Credits: Richmond Independant

"I needed to explore beyond myself and Robert needed to search within himself." (77)

Hotel Chelsea. Credits: The Atlantic

Hotel Chelsea. World's most rock 'n' roll hotel. Once was the home of many great artists of their generations. Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe stayed in this popular hotel.

Cover of the album Blonde on Blonde by Bob Dylan

Being such an influential figure, Bob Dylan was one of the inspirations for Patti Smith in terms of artistic work.

The Life of an Artist - Deviant Art

Living together, Robert and Patti had to work a lot to cover their survival needs. But as artists, they needed time and effort to produce and create. So, when one was working for food and shelter, the other was working on art.

The mutual development of these two young people was very significant in Patti Smith's life. Greatness can be achieved through multiple ways.