When a book of surf photos is produced by a leading New York art publisher it raises the stakes. It is a statement of intent. It clearly aspires to a market beyond surfing, to those with broader cultural and artistic interests. And that is the standard by which it must ultimately be judged.
As the title indicates this book is concerned with the cocaine trade in Bali. It is a sad book that dwells long on the sordid sexual behaviour of its subjects while hardly sparing a paragraph to consider the victims of the criminality it describes.
Phil Jarratt has taken a conquistador's approach to his latest book. It's all there in the title. He starts by defining his target, 'Surfing Australia,'and then goes on to claim all the available territory.
The Big Juice makes sense of the big wave mindset and gives a history lesson along the way. It's an enjoyable book, but one that could do with a bloody good proofread.
There are times when, despite all my internal protestations, I realise I'm just as susceptible to marketing as any network TV watching chump. The latest example occurred while checking the Stewart surfboards website.
"It sure would be nice if people attached more value to surf films. The landscape of filmmaking has entirely changed and lots of things have impacted how surf films are accessed and priced. We saw the same thing happen in the music industry."
Who gives a fuck if it's an indy, slob or lien when they're tweaked and varied every which way, and besides, the most impressive thing ain't where he lays his digits but the sheer speed, height and power.
Bleakley has found an unlikely muse in 1950's jazz and employs it to good use. The first book in particular, Surfing Brilliant Corners, the title is adapted from a 1957 album by Thelonious Monk, features regular jazz references.
Don't go looking for good surf pics in 101 Best Australian Beaches 'cos you won't find them. Trust me, I've leafed every page and scanned every photo in this delightful doorstop of a book and there's nary a wave to be found.
"Do you listen to much Captain Beefheart?"
"Hmmm...a little."
"Then get hold of the song Distant Cousins before you ride the board. Listen and you'll understand where it's come from."
Don't go looking for intellectual stimulation inStorm Surfers 3D 'cos you won't find it. What you'll get instead is a high energy blast of buckshot to the senses.
