Larissa Pham's 'Pop Song' Explores Art, Intimacy and Identity Through Personal Narrative

American writer Larissa Pham's book 'Pop Song: Adventures in Art and Intimacy' examines love, trauma, and loss through the lens of contemporary art and personal experience. Structured as an extended breakup narrative, the work moves from relationship beginnings to endings while referencing artists like Susan Sontag, Stevie Nicks, and Agnes Martin. Pham explores her Vietnamese heritage and feelings of displacement during a visit to New Mexico, where she considers indigenous culture alongside her own experiences. The book culminates with a trip to Shanghai where an encounter with Louise Bourgeois's work leads to acceptance of singlehood. Published by Catapult for $16.95 in softcover, 'Pop Song' blends art criticism with memoir as Pham discusses her attraction to physical directness in BDSM and artists including Yayoi Kusama, Jenny Saville, and Nan Goldin. While praised for nuanced exploration of emotional distance through images and words, the book has been noted for its focus on established artists rather than more diverse voices.