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Post by paulumbo on Aug 25, 2008 15:47:07 GMT -5
I was looking at THE UNSEEN BEATLES PHOTOGRAPHS BY BOB WHITAKER (1991; text by Martin Harrison.) Whitaker photographed Brian Epstein during the Beatles' 1964 Australian tour. Epstein offered to manage him as a photographer and also made Whitaker his "artistic adviser." He designed the infamous "Butcher" cover for the Beatles' YESTERDAY AND TODAY album. In 1965 he photographed John and Cynthia at their Weybridge home. One photograph--pp. 32-33-- shows John crouching with his arms on his legs and his hands spread out looking at his reflection in the waters of a fountain in his garden. The caption says, ". . . John plays Narcissus." The text describes the myth of Narcissus who did not return the love of the [male] nymph Echo and was doomed by Venus to become obsessed with his own reflection, pine away, and eventually be changed into a flower. Then the text says, ". . . on another level this was an astonishingly prophetic photograph." WHY? My only guess is that John rejected the advances of Brian Epstein and Epstein replaced him. (I think he was out of the group by at least the 1966 American tour, if not before.) But it might be deeper than that. Anyone good on myths? Iameye?
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Post by P(D)enny La(i)ne on Aug 26, 2008 11:21:20 GMT -5
I was looking at THE UNSEEN BEATLES PHOTOGRAPHS BY BOB WHITAKER (1991; text by Martin Harrison.) Whitaker photographed Brian Epstein during the Beatles' 1964 Australian tour. Epstein offered to manage him as a photographer and also made Whitaker his "artistic adviser." He designed the infamous "Butcher" cover for the Beatles' YESTERDAY AND TODAY album. In 1965 he photographed John and Cynthia at their Weybridge home. One photograph--pp. 32-33-- shows John crouching with his arms on his legs and his hands spread out looking at his reflection in the waters of a fountain in his garden. The caption says, ". . . John plays Narcissus." The text describes the myth of Narcissus who did not return the love of the [male] nymph Echo and was doomed by Venus to become obsessed with his own reflection, pine away, and eventually be changed into a flower. Then the text says, ". . . on another level this was an astonishingly prophetic photograph." WHY? My only guess is that John rejected the advances of Brian Epstein and Epstein replaced him. (I think he was out of the group by at least the 1966 American tour, if not before.) But it might be deeper than that. Anyone good on myths? Iameye? I'm NOT saying that I disagree with you, Paulumbo, but can you tell me why you think Lennon "was out of the group by at least the 1966 American tour, if not before"? Just curious as to what evidence has led you to that conclusion. Thanks.
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Post by paulumbo on Aug 26, 2008 16:55:00 GMT -5
He looked different: smaller eyes, pinched nose, and he was wearing glasses in public, something that the earlier John was loathe to do.
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