To Repel Ghosts

To Repel Ghosts chronicles the life and work of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat through interconnected poems and verse. The book follows Basquiat's rise from street artist to international art star in 1980s New York City. Young structures the collection as a "remix," incorporating fragments of Basquiat's writings, artwork titles, and biographical details into jazzy, improvisational verses. The poems capture Basquiat's voice and artistic process while exploring his relationships with Andy Warhol, gallery owners, and others in his orbit. The work documents Basquiat's struggles with fame, racism in the art world, and addiction, ending with his death at age 27 in 1988. Through a mix of formal poems and experimental pieces, Young reconstructs key moments and turning points in the artist's career. The collection examines themes of Black identity, commodification of art, and the toll of creative genius, building a complex portrait through accumulation of details rather than linear narrative.

Readers describe this poetry collection as dense and challenging, requiring multiple readings to fully grasp Young's complex references to Jean-Michel Basquiat's art and life. Positive reviews note: - Effectively captures Basquiat's frenetic artistic style - Strong musical rhythm and jazz influences - Detailed research and historical context - Creative typography and formatting that mirrors Basquiat's work Common criticisms: - Length (over 300 pages) feels excessive - Many references require deep knowledge of 1980s art scene - Some sections become repetitive - Dense style can be difficult to penetrate Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (12 ratings) From reader reviews: "The wordplay and typography create a visual experience that matches Basquiat's paintings" - Goodreads reviewer "Too long and could have been edited down significantly" - Amazon reviewer "Requires a PhD in art history to fully understand" - LibraryThing reviewer

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✧ "To Repel Ghosts" draws inspiration from the life and work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, reimagining the neo-expressionist artist's story through an intricate collection of poems ✧ Kevin Young spent seven years crafting this epic poem collection, conducting extensive research into Basquiat's life, art, and the 1980s New York art scene ✧ The book's title comes from Basquiat's own artistic practice of using "X" marks in his paintings, which he said were meant to repel ghosts ✧ The collection includes "blues poems" that mirror Basquiat's sampling technique in his artwork, incorporating fragments of popular culture, music, and street art ✧ Young structured the book as a "double album," with the revised 2005 version featuring two distinct yet interconnected collections of poems that can be read separately or as one work