Mapplethorpe: Look At The Pictures

Mapplethorpe: Look At The Pictures is a compelling, unabashedly raw documentary film released in 2016. This extraordinary exploration obtusely cuts beyond the cultural aesthetics and controversy that surrounded the famous 20th-century photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, tackling his personal journey, his creative process, and his groundbreaking and provocative photography which often ignited discomfort and impassioned controversy. The film is directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, capturing a poignant narrative of an artist that extends far beyond surface-level discussions.

Playing themselves in the film, Nancy Rooney, Harry Mapplethorpe, and George Stack, along with an ensemble of personalities who knew and worked with Robert Mapplethorpe, share intimate and insightful anecdotes and experiences with the artist, revealing a more profound understanding of the man behind the camera. Their testimonies come to show not only the depth of Mapplethorpe's talent but also his complex personality and the personal struggles that fired his relentless pursuit of art.

The film’s title, "Mapplethorpe: Look At The Pictures" derives its resonance from a statement made by U.S. Senator Jesse Helms during a four-year deliberation over whether or not the National Endowment for the Arts ought to fund Mapplethorpe's work, given the explicit and challenging nature of his art. The film includes this moment, among many other pivotal points in Mapplethorpe's life and career, elegantly tracing the evolution of his artistry and the array of reactions it elicited from the public and official institutions alike.

The documentary film presents Mapplethorpe as a revolutionary who defiantly pushed the boundaries of photography and society. His stunning photography often delved into erotically charged and taboo subjects, posing bold questions about body, sexuality, race, and the conventionally accepted boundaries of the art world. Mapplethorpe’s work remains as defying and provocative today as it was during his life and times.

In the film, Mapplethorpe’s vast and varied body of work is meticulously explored, as personified in the stories told by his brother Harry Mapplethorpe, his longtime friend Nancy Rooney, and George Stack, his MD. From his earliest Polaroids to the striking, controversial final projects, the film provides an enlightening glimpse into Mapplethorpe’s artistic processes, highlighting the exquisite craftsmanship that marked his most significant works. His heart-wrenching struggle with AIDS, and how the disease reflected in his creations, forms a pivotal part of this narrative as well.

"Mapplethorpe: Look At The Pictures" uses a combination of archival footage and narrations from Robert Mapplethorpe himself, as well as in-depth interviews from those closest to him, painting a rich tapestry of Mapplethorpe’s personal and professional life. Importantly, the film does not seek to idolize or condemn Mapplethorpe, but rather presents a balanced view of a subversive figure within the art world, displaying both his creative brilliance and his abrasive personality.

This film takes viewers on a thought-provoking journey, diving into the deep, dark, and often turbulent world of Mapplethorpe. It is a must-see for anyone interested in the blending of art and social commentary, for those intrigued by cultural revolutions, and for those who want to witness the omnipotent power of the lens to challenge societal norms through the intense and controversial journey of Robert Mapplethorpe.

"Mapplethorpe: Look At The Pictures" is not merely a portrait; it is a bold, intimate exploration of the enigmatic artist, a homage to his enormous impact on photography and modern art, and an unflinching chronicle of an era in American history when societal norms were frequently questioned and contested. By looking at the pictures, the audience is invited to understand and appreciate the profound depth, creative complexity, and compelling story of an iconic artist whose work transformed and pushed the boundaries of his medium.