Week 10 – Connection

So unfortunately I just finished quite possibly one of the best books I have ever read.

“Just Kids” by Patti Smith.

Quite possibly one of the most inspirational books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I went into the book knowing nothing about Patti Smith but came out feeling like she was a part of my family. I definitely had a bit of a cry as I read the last dozen or so words.

The Chelsea Hotel featured in the book as a major turning point in Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe’s life. They resided there for quite some time in the 70’s and served to be quite an important institution in their lives. Here they were socially connected with many like-minded artists who had the same hopes and dreams as them. It also got me thinking about how people would’ve communicated in the early-mid 20th century without instant forms of communication such as mobiles. There’s a part of the novel where Patti is attempting to apply for a job and all she can do is drop an application off in the store and hope that they hire her on the spot. There is no waiting period, no employer will give her a call on her non-existent mobile phone.

I’m not thinking about this idea in a really juvenile way, it genuinely just really boggles my mind. I doubt Patti Smith would have imagined that 30 years later, she would be using a mobile phone to communicate with people. It makes me wonder what we forms of technology we will have at our disposable in 20 or 30 years time. It’s terrifying.

Anywaaaaaaay, here is a beautiful photo of Robert and Patti Smith together.