HARING-ISMS Book Review—Big Wisdom in a Little Package

Posted on by Margaret Rose Smith

How can one little faceless figure show so much energy?

How does a group of colorful gingerbread men make viewers around the world want to dance?

Behind the seemingly simple works of Keith Haring is a history fascinatingly documented in quotes on everything from the color red to the JFK assassination: and they all live in this little yellow book— HARING-ISMS.

“It’s a huge world. There are lots and lots and lots of people that I haven’t reached yet that I’d like to reach.”

HARING-ISMS
PHOTO BY HEINZDS

HARING-ISMS Lets Us Know a Cultural Icon Up Close and Personal

Modern-day readers may recognize the aggressive proliferation of Keith Haring’s work on everything from T-shirts to greeting cards to full-on copies of street paintings. Haring’s simple yet powerful dancing dudes surrounded by dynamic lines have taken the hearts of America by storm since the advent of his work in the 1980s.

“Art is one of the last areas that is totally within the realm of the human individual and can’t be copied or done better by a machine.”

Haring-isms provides a blend of cultural context, artistic opinions, and autobiographical snippets that allows the reader to become instantly acquainted with the world of Keith Haring. His most famous works are explained in detail with words right from the artist’s mouth. At times, reading the book is like walking in a teeny-tiny museum and reading the captions of the artwork.

HARING-ISMS
PHOTO BY WALLYG

“Art lives through the imaginations of the people who are seeing it. Without that contact, there is no art.”

HARING-ISMS
PHOTO BY WALLYG

 “The artist, if he is a vessel, is also a performer.”

Haring spoke powerfully on the turbulent political world of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. This book does not shy away from addressing tragedies surrounding Haring’s life, such as the AIDS epidemic. Readers are able to effectively celebrate Haring’s life and work while absorbing the proper context for his remarkably simple works, in this writer’s view.

HARING-ISMS
PHOTO BY CHRIS HUNKELER

You too may find the small yellow hard-cover packaging delightful. You can treat it almost like a pocket bible of art advice. It is portable, yet durable, and adorable. This reviewer’s only complaint is that it lacks visual representation of Haring’s art. Haring-isms is geared more towards those already familiar with Haring and his visuals, rather than those looking to discover a new artist.

Many will benefit from keeping a copy of Haring-isms in a bookbag to peruse on their next subway ride, museum visit, or in line for the voting booth this November. Those in the market for artistic wisdom will not be disappointed!

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$12.95

For more information or to purchase a copy, visit the Princeton University Press page for HARING-ISMS.

Image Credits:
Book cover image courtesy of Princeton University Press.
Second photo: "Keith Haring. The Alphabet II" by HeinzDS
Third photo: Brooklyn - Brooklyn Museum: Keith Haring: 1978–1982 - Matrix" by wallyg
Fourth photo: "Brooklyn - Brooklyn Museum: Keith Haring: 1978–1982" by wallyg
Fifth photo: "Haring Garden" by Chris Hunkeler

Margaret Rose Smith
Margaret Rose Smith

About the Author: Margaret Rose Smith

Margaret Rose Smith is an aspiring writer and museologist currently pursuing a BA in Creative Writing and Art History at the University of Chicago. Born and raised in Chicago, she’s spent a large amount of time in the halls of the Art Institute, both to study the history of art and to gain inspiration for future writing projects. In her spare time, Peggy enjoys sewing, collecting vintage Donald Duck merchandise, and petting her two cats.

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