Hollywood 13 1958

Curator: We’re looking at "Hollywood 13," a gelatin-silver print made by Robert Frank in 1958. It’s presented as a full roll of film, exposing his raw process. Editor: My first thought? It feels like flipping through someone else’s memories, hazy and incomplete, a film reel catching moments I can almost grasp. There's a palpable sense of longing, maybe? Curator: Absolutely. Given that Frank's most notable work examined outsiders in America during a time of supposed prosperity, how do you see this specific piece fitting within that broader context? It captures scenes of everyday life but seems to withhold something. Editor: It’s almost like peeking behind the curtain of the "American Dream," isn't it? There are hints of glamour, perhaps parties, maybe restaurants –but shot with a disaffected lens, far from the glossy portrayals we usually see. Curator: Indeed. Consider the social implications of showcasing what’s often left unseen. Frank confronts us with realities that complicate idealized images. The incomplete narrative is deliberate; Frank challenges viewers to question the dominant narrative around progress. Editor: Right. And I wonder about the sequencing. Does he want us to question the relationships between these moments? Like, what does one encounter in juxtaposition with the next reveal about that period, or Hollywood specifically? There are scenes that seem utterly mundane interspersed with ones hinting at fame and fantasy. Curator: He definitely destabilizes hierarchies by representing ordinary people alongside potential celebrities; think about race and class dynamics in that moment of American history. I find myself reflecting on those whose stories were suppressed in Hollywood. Editor: It definitely forces me to reflect, that's for sure. So much mood is layered within the process and final composition. I admire the ability to challenge perceptions without being preachy. Curator: Agreed. Frank provokes necessary interrogations of cultural narratives and he certainly pushes us to think more critically. Editor: Yeah, I mean, it makes you want to grab your own camera, walk the streets, and tell a different kind of story, a real story.