Cholo writing originally constitues the handstyle created by the Latino gangs in Los Angeles. It is probably the oldest form of the graffiti of names in the 20th century; with its own aesthetic; evident long before the East Coast appearance and the explosion in the early 1970s in Philadelphia and New York. The term cholo means lowlife ; appropriated by Chicano youth to describe the style and people associated with local gangs; cholo became a popular expression to define the Mexican American culture. Latino gangs are a parallel reality of the local urban life; with their own traditions and codes from oral language; way of dressing; tattoos and hand signs to letterforms. These wall-writings; sometimes called the newspaper of the streets ; are territorial signs which main function is to define clearly and constantly the limits of a gang s influence area and encouraging gang strength; a graffiti made by the neighborhood for the neighborhood. Cholo inscriptions has a speficic written aesthetic based on a strong sense of the place and on a monolinear adaptation of historic blackletters for street bombing. Howard Gribble; an amateur photographer from the city of Torrance in the South of Los Angeles County; documented Latino gang graffiti from 1970 to 1975. These photographs of various Cholo handletterings; constituted an unique opportunity to try to push forward the calligraphic analysis of Cholo writing; its origins and formal evolution. A second series of photographs made by Francois Chastanet in 2008 from East LA to South Central; are an attempt to produce a visual comparison of letterforms by finding the same barrios (neighborhoods) and gangs group names more than thirty five years after Gribble s work. Without ignoring the violence and self-destruction inherent to la vida loca (or the crazy life ; referring to the barrio gang experience); this present book documents the visual strategies of a given sub-culture to survive as a visible entity in an environement made of a never ending sprawl of warehouses; freeways; wood framed houses; fences and back alleys: welcome to LA suburbia; where block after block; one can observe more of the same. The two exceptionnal photographical series and essays are a tentative for the recognization of Cholo writing as a major influence on the whole Californian underground cultures. Foreword by Chaz Bojorquez.
#419738 in eBooks 2008-05-13 2008-05-19File Name: B0017SYMBC
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Jan and Dean on tourBy sundaeLove Bob Greene. Followed his writing in Chicago when he wrote a newspaper column. His books can be funny. heartfelt. and insightful. This book is about when he toured with Jan and Dean. He was actually invited to sing with them on their yearly tours. I felt like I went on tour with them by reading this book. Got the inside of what its like to go on tour with a rock group. got insights into other groups they were billed with (like the Beach Boys and many others). Learned a lot about Jan and Dean and how they were able to work around Jans problems (from that "Deadmans Curve" accident). Very interesting documentary written by a fine writer.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Behind the scenes with Bob Jan DeanBy KJThank you. Bob Greene. for writing this book! This is a great inside perspective of the Jan Dean touring experience in the last years of Jan Berrys life. At various times it is funny. sad and triumphant. and overall a tribute to the passion and persistence of Jan through all of the adversities that resulted from his near-fatal 1966 car crash. Its also a tribute to Dean Torrence. who was a kind and good friend to Jan all of those years after the accident. It couldnt have been easy but he stuck with him to the end.If youre interested in rock roll history and the 60s era this book is for you. Another great read from years ago is Be True To Your School. also written by Bob Greene and the driver for this one in a way. When We Get To Surf City... is almost a sequel. Very good!2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Every Teenagers Dream Come True--Bob Greene Does it AgainBy Dawn Lee WakefieldKent Kotals Forgotten Hits blog noting Bob Greenes best work to date was enough of a heads-up to take a closer look. From a regular spot in the audience to stage left. Greene gave up the comfort of a famous writer to become a road rookie on Jan and Deans summer shows. In the 1960s Bob was a typical teenager driving with the car radio blaring Jan and Deans latest hit; forty years later. Bob Greene is on guitar. on stage. offering backing vocals for Jan and Dean. Subtitle: "Every teenagers dream come true".Greenes musical fantasy began when keyboardist/songwriter Gary Griffin. today part of the Surf City Allstars. read Greenes book "Be True to Your School". Griffin phoned with the chance of a lifetime; would Greene like to join Jan Dean and the band that summer? Two seconds later. he agreed. At his own expense. Bob packed his guitar. his computer and on the road he went. That summer of fun turned into 14 more. In that time. Greene forged true friendships and became "one of the boys of summer".The basic tale moves quickly. courtesy of Greenes "you-are-there" writing. Hidden inside the story of surf music is a special back story: the lifelong partnership/friendship between Jan Berry and Dean Torrence. Music aficionados know the real story of "Dead Mans Curve" and how Jan Berry went from savant musician and promising premed to "young man in ICU" overnight in a nightmare-fulfilling prophecy.Berrys injuries never fully healed. Fans had no idea. until "Surf city". that Jan Berry. once called genius. listened to a cassette daily to re-learn the words to his own songs. Jans limitations caused dual strain for Torrence. who did his job and Jans. graciously maintaining an image of "everythings alright; its all good." For the first time the "Dean". Torrences true character and devotion to his friend is revealed. Jans full-time job was just to show up and be the "Jan" part of the duo. The rest was left to Dean to bring it all together. and he did so. thanks to a superb band including Griffin. Philip Bardowell. David Logeman. and Chris Farmer."Surf City" is your front and center concert seat. eyewitness perch for summer fun. Green shares his insight into the hearts and minds behind the melodies and harmonies of surf music legends Berry and Torrence. and their band--unquestionably a must-read.This review also appeared in "Keep Rockin" magazine. January/February. 2010 issue.
