Book of the Week | Hollywood Foto-Rhetoric by Bob Dylan & Barry Feinstein

Book of the Week | Episode 15: Hollywood Foto-Rhetoric with text by Bob Dylan and images by Barry Feinstein

Surfacing for the first time after more than forty years, Hollywood Foto-Rhetoric is a remarkable, long-lost manuscript written by Bob Dylan in the 1960s, inspired by renowned photographer Barry Feinstein's portraits of Tinseltown. These twenty-three prose poems are thoughtprovoking, witty, and thoroughly unexpected observations of a bygone era, and through the lens of Feinstein's camera they speak volumes about the faces and places that have graced the City of Angels. Images like those of Judy Garland, Marlene Dietrich, and Steve McQueen resonate with our collective memory, while photographs of hopeful starlets, movie studio backlots, and sunny, palm tree'd boulevards evoke the timeless allure of all things Hollywood.

Hollywood Foto-Rhetoric marks a unique collaboration: With his unerring eye, Barry Feinstein captured unforgettable moments in stunning black-and-white, such as Marilyn Monroe's swimming pool on the day she died, and Frank Sinatra celebrating at John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Ball. In the provocative accompanying text, Bob Dylan's quixotic, expressive lyricism redefines silver screen nostalgia.

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About the Vermont Center for Photography

The Vermont Center for Photography (VCP) is a nonprofit organization based in Brattleboro, Vermont, dedicated to promoting the photographic arts through exhibitions, education, and community engagement. We offer:

Rotating exhibitions featuring regional, national, and international artists
A publicly accessible library of 1,600+ photography books
A black-and-white darkroom and digital lab open to the public
Educational programs, workshops, and private tutorials for all skill levels
PhotoThrift, our one-of-a-kind thrift store for vintage camera gear
Focus Forward, a program offering free photo classes for individuals in addiction recovery
Our mission is to foster dialogue, encourage inquiry, and create a welcoming community where people can explore and celebrate the power of photography.

📸 Learn more, become a member, or support our work: https://vcphoto.org