Afbeelding auteur
8+ Werken 198 Leden 1 Geef een beoordeling

Over de Auteur

Bevat ook: Norman Klein (3)

Werken van Norman M. Klein

Gerelateerde werken

Illuminating Video: An Essential Guide To Video Art (1990) — Medewerker — 107 exemplaren

Tagged

Algemene kennis

Geboortedatum
1945
Geslacht
male
Woonplaatsen
Los Angeles, California, USA
Beroepen
Professor

Leden

Besprekingen

I read this book while waiting for delivery of the more well-known book `City of Quartz' by Mike Davis. I am glad I read this one first. It is a well-documented and scholarly book, yet full of passion and feeling about the City of the Angels. It focuses almost exclusively on `Downtown', whereas Davis's book ranges more widely.
I was left in no doubt about Klein's feeling for that part of LA - he lives in Anegelino Heights - the first suburb just north of Downtown. Klein brings to life through personal anecdote the vitality and multiculturalism (and problems) of his, and other neighbourhoods.

You get to boo and hiss at the villains who have alienated greater LA from its Downtown, but you also get a sense of Klein's affection, and sense of hope for the city.Davis's view is much bleaker and perhaps nihilistic - he rails against the racism upon which LA is foundered, and upon which the powerful thrive, but I note in passing that he lives in the uppermiddle class enclave of Pasadena. Klein, on the other hand (at least at the time of writing) remains part of the inner urban fabric of the city. I get the feeling that Klein is a supporter of urban renewal, whereas Davis views it as another alienating con on the part of City Hall.

I agree with a previous reviewer that the novella within the book doesn't quite work. I think it contains the seeds of a good story in another genre, but is misplaced here. One problem may be the attempt to speak in a voice for which he has respect, but which is not his.

If you are interested in all things LA, film and fictive noir, the great upheavals and crises of a city such as the Rodney King affair and the LAPD, apocalyptic LA, and more - all of which penetrate the consciousness of many way way beyond the city (through globalised media, which is part of the fabric of LA) , then you will be enthralled by this book. Read it alongside Davis, by all means, but don't neglect it in favour of Davis!

If you like discussion of film and fiction set in LA, there is lots in this book to ponder.

Note: Klein cites Davis in his work. I have not seen Klein cited in any work of Davis (understandable in City of Quartz, which predates Klein's work, but he also does not appear in the index for Davis's later work Ecology of Fear - which at the time of writing this I have not yet read)
… (meer)
2 stem
Gemarkeerd
saliero | Jun 17, 2007 |

Misschien vindt je deze ook leuk

Gerelateerde auteurs

Statistieken

Werken
8
Ook door
1
Leden
198
Populariteit
#110,929
Waardering
½ 3.7
Besprekingen
1
ISBNs
13
Talen
1

Tabellen & Grafieken