Didion and Babitz: Bad Art Friends

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I can’t escape the story of my bad art friend. She suddenly appeared in books I had read again and again. At first, which of the two women I’ve read was a guilty party, but usually she’s the one who doesn’t narrate.

There is an increasing number of topics in literature, where women compete in artistically on romanticism, and often includes levels of theft and jealousy. Two female artists work hard to build themselves, or they are together at the age of age. They get along with each other, are influenced by each other, and can even regard each other’s experiences, images or words as their own. At least one bad art friend is a parasite. Usually, only one continues to thrive.

In the fall of 2021, the Internet is held by the original story of “bad art friends” (talented) Now article). Six years ago, aspiring writer Dawn Dorland donated his kidneys. She created a Facebook group and posted information about her experiences during her recovery. Sonya Larson is a more established writer – he is also a member of the Facebook group, as well as Grubstreet, a writing community in Dorland. The mirror she shared on Facebook.

The case of Bad Art Friends ended up appearing in court, and both parties filed lawsuits. Dorland believes that her experience has been repurposed and profitable without her permission, and Larson feels she has been slandered and harassed. This story is everywhere. Journalists and writers across media and platforms praised and brought consistency. Who are bad art friends? Dorland, because her experience is valuable? Or Larson, because she uses them for her own purposes? Everyone has an opinion.

I remembered my bad art friends when reading RF Kuang’s 2023 books Yellow face. In June, June Hayward stole the unfinished work of her friend Athena Liu and published it in her own name. Later, we discover that Athena is engaged in her own art theft.

I recall Elena Ferrante’s Naples novelLenu made art for the talent of her friend Lila and later wrote a book as an act of revenge that included all the details of Lila’s life. 2022 at Yiyun Li GooseThe teenager Fabienne was set in the rural French countryside of the 1950s, forcing Agnés to transcribe her story and then earn honors for the resulting bestseller. In both books, young women respond, writing with their friends, who immediately became the dedication and competition of Girls’ Generation.

This telescope goes beyond writing. At Zadie Smith’s Swing timean unnamed narrator and her best friend Tracey dreams of becoming a dancer, but their talent and background vary greatly. exist The art of disappearing By Lynne Kutsukake, a wealthy man wants to be artist Sayako uses Akemi’s actual similarities (including her birthmark that she feels ashamed of) in Tokyo paintings in the 1970s.

This is Lili Anolik Didion and Babitz. In 1967, Eve Babitz, a bohemian and plump man, blows into Joan Didion’s home, building, respecting and retaining. In Anolik’s narrative, Babitz Fashion Columnist, can only write.

Didion is definitely the bad art friend of this story. But, from this book, I’m not sure whether Didion even makes Babitz everywhere, let alone vampires. We see Didion in Eve’s eyes, in the scraps and fragments of writing. However, we never saw Eve’s eyes. Moreover, we simply don’t see Didion’s point of view.

Anolik has worked with Babitz and her family for many years Vanity Fair One piece, then 2019 books, The Eve of Hollywood. This work helped rekindle interest in Babitz, who had never risen in active writing in the following years. This book feels like a continuation. It’s a beautiful story of Eve’s story – full of ups and downs and conspiracies – by someone who really takes care of her legacy, taking care of her legacy in a way that suits her. It’s star-studded, gossipy, full of sex, drugs and rock. Harrison Ford is seen as a young struggling actor. Steve Martin appears. It’s totally readable and fun. But it’s also a bit like bait and switching.

In real life, artistic friendship is chaotic and complex. Writers may draw inspiration from the same person and from one another. A person’s work may have insight into other people’s lives or may call something we think we already know or are questioned. As a vampire, castings seem too simple without much evidence.

Didion and Babitz Most interestingly, when Anolik talks about the ways in which the two writers’ works reflect and bounce back against each other, most people live up to their promise to clarify the lives of the two women. The same coins, each reflects its own experience: a shiny one, a wear. Which side belongs to the angle you look at from which angle. Just like the question of “who is a bad art friend”, this is a matter of opinion.