Janet Malcolm's 'Forty-One False Starts' Examines Artist Interviews and Media Culture
In her 2013 anthology 'Forty-One False Starts: Essays on Artists and Writers,' Janet Malcolm explores her journalistic interactions with various artists. While profiling David Salle, she found his insights on art rather dull, observing that his narratives became compelling when he spoke about his personal life. Malcolm juxtaposes the 'truth' of artistic expression with real-life experiences. Another essay features photographer Thomas Struth, who awkwardly confessed to not having read Proust, despite his instructors stressing the author's significance. She critiques the trends within the culture industry and reflects on her own interests, revealing her intrigue with both renowned artists and possible impostors. Many pieces began as book reviews, emphasizing her focus on mediated narratives. This review was published in the September 2013 issue of ArtReview.
Key facts
- Janet Malcolm's essay collection 'Forty-One False Starts' was published in 2013
- The book includes profiles of painter David Salle and photographer Thomas Struth
- Malcolm interviewed David Salle for two years but found his art discussions uninteresting
- Thomas Struth cited Bernd and Hilla Becher as influential tutors at the Düsseldorf Academy
- Bernd Becher taught students to view Eugene Atget's photographs as visualizations of Marcel Proust
- Struth admitted he hadn't read Proust when questioned by Malcolm
- Malcolm examines the culture industry through photography catalog trends and estate management
- Many essays originated as book reviews, focusing on mediated coverage of subjects
Entities
Artists
- Janet Malcolm
- David Salle
- Thomas Struth
- Bernd Becher
- Hilla Becher
- Eugene Atget
- Marcel Proust
- Virginia Woolf
Institutions
- Düsseldorf Academy
- Bloomsbury group
- ArtReview
Locations
- Düsseldorf
- Germany