Conventional Wisdom
Published on 22. August 2016
Book
Hardback
192 pages
978-1-943876-27-3 (ISBN)
Description
An unconventional chronicle, Conventional Wisdom is author-photographer ArthurDrooker's quirky look at conventions held by some unusual interest groups, including Lincolnpresenters, furries, and mermaids. Dropper documents these events as unique expressions ofcommunity, culture, and connection. The humorous and insightful text,including intimate interviews conducted with attendees, complements the stunning photographsDrooker shot during his visits to each convention over a three-year period. From theballrooms to the vendor rooms to the guest rooms, Drooker's ubiquitous camera capturesthe essence and exuberance of these annual gatherings.
Conventional Wisdom shows that regardless of what they'reabout, where they're held or who attends them, all conventions satisfy a basichuman urge: a longing to belong. The bookreveals that at conventions people who share similar interests, evenobsessions, come together to bond and to be themselves. The outside world doesn'tmatter. In fact, for the weekend duration of most conventions, the outsideworld doesn't even exist. An attendee Drooker met at the taxidermist conventionexpressed it best. "This isn't a convention," he said. "It's a family reunion."
Conventional Wisdom shows that regardless of what they'reabout, where they're held or who attends them, all conventions satisfy a basichuman urge: a longing to belong. The bookreveals that at conventions people who share similar interests, evenobsessions, come together to bond and to be themselves. The outside world doesn'tmatter. In fact, for the weekend duration of most conventions, the outsideworld doesn't even exist. An attendee Drooker met at the taxidermist conventionexpressed it best. "This isn't a convention," he said. "It's a family reunion."
Reviews / Votes
In sameness there is wackiness. Over three years Arthur Drooker trekked around the U.S. to document extreme enthusiasts and true believers at conventions and trade shows, from ventriloquist gatherings to clown conclaves to bondage festivities. What seems amusing or bizarre to the uninitiated is comfort for cultists. "No longer an outsider," James Wolcott writes in his foreword, "you are, for a jolly day or two, a Lincoln among Lincolns, a Santa among Santas, a furry among furries high-fiving each other's paws. Yet you remain yourself, only more so." -- Jack Crager * american PHOTO, September 14, 2016 * Conventional Wisdom proves that regardless of what they're about, where they're held, or who attends them, all conventions satisfy a basic human urge: a longing to belong. Those who share similar interests, even obsessions, come together to be themselves, while forging new relationships and joining a larger community. * L'Oeil de la Photographie, September 19, 2016 * What may have started out as a general curiosity of such quirky gatherings for Drooker has blossomed into something much more substantial for both him and his photography. Having a newfound respect and understanding for these convention goers Drooker has discovered that conventions are sanctuaries for the individuals who attend them. -- Erica McGrath * Musee Magazine * "If Drooker chose the 10 conventions he attended with a view to their finery-and-freak-on potential... he seems a bit more sympathetic to the motivations of the attendees, and to their humanity, regardless of costume. His sharp eye and generosity of spirit both show clearly in the photographs reproduced" -- John Prendergast * The Pennsylvania Gazette, October 27, 2016 * "[Conventional Wisdom is a] new book that offers a sensitive exploration of 10 quirky and highly photogenic conventions." -- Vicki Larson, Award-winning journalist and co-author of "The New I Do: Reshaping Marriage for Skeptics, Realists and Rebels" * Marin Independent Journal * Revelling in taxidermy, getting together with your fellow mermaids and mermen, or championing the joy of My Little Pony, Drooker's images - captured over a three year period - document those free to indulge their curiosities without fear of being judged; fanatics living their lives exactly how they choose. -- Francesca Soler * We Heart, December 19, 2016 *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
Illustrations; Halftones, Color including Color Photographs
Dimensions
Height: 282 mm
Width: 264 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
1542 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-943876-27-3 (9781943876273)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Arthur Drooker is the author and photographerof American Ruins, Lost Worlds: Ruins of the Americas,and Pie Town Revisited. His work has been featured on CBSSunday Morning and has toured museums, including the Virginia Centerof Architecture, and the Art Museum of the Americas in Washington, D.C. Drookerhas also written, produced, and directed award-winning televisiondocumentaries. To see a selection of his work, please visit arthurdrooker.com.He lives in Mill Valley, California.
James Wolcott is the culture critic for VanityFair. He has also written for Esquire, The NewYorker, and Harper's Magazine. His books include LuckingOut: My Life Getting Down and Semi-Dirty in Seventies New York and Critical Mass: FourDecades of Essays, Reviews, Hand Grenades, and Hurrahs, which won the2014 PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay. He lives in NewYork, New York.
James Wolcott is the culture critic for VanityFair. He has also written for Esquire, The NewYorker, and Harper's Magazine. His books include LuckingOut: My Life Getting Down and Semi-Dirty in Seventies New York and Critical Mass: FourDecades of Essays, Reviews, Hand Grenades, and Hurrahs, which won the2014 PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay. He lives in NewYork, New York.