Joan Rivers (2010) A Piece Of Work

I learned of the passing of Joan Rivers today and of course it brought back fond (and yes, not so fond) memories of her life, career and inextricable link with pop-culture Americana. She was always a present and constant source of creativity, of exploration and expression that cannot truly be valued in modern terms of success and failure. I was fortunate enough to see Joan live in the Castro district of San Francisco a few years ago (I reviewed that show here –> https://rorydean.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/joan-rivers-live-at-the-castro-san-francisco/ ) and while it was a joyous and special evening I couldn’t help but pause at times in astonishment over her fearlessness and brazen personality. Her work wasn’t for everyone and very often garnered as much praise and appreciation as negativity, even vitriol. What can we hope for in this life as artists but to elicit strong responses with our work, to reach out from and into the void for a little while and tickle the silences, nudge the incurable distances and ponder – did we leave a mark at all? Yes Joan, you left many, many marks and your uniqueness will not soon be repeated – if ever.

For Joan.

[Original Article Joan Rivers (2011 A Piece of Work documentary https://rorydean.wordpress.com/2011/01/23/joan-rivers-2010-a-piece-of-work/%5D

Above the Line

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work is part documentary part reality television turned in on itself as if to capture both the viewer and the subject in the quasi space that only truly exists where the past and the present merge – turning legend into lore and sometimes the other way around. Let’s face it; Ms. Rivers has been working so long that most twenty-something’s only have the faintest of ideas who she really is, was, or came to be – red carpet commando, QVC celebrity saleswoman, and sadly victim of circumstance under the cosmetic-to-be-young knife. This isn’t so much a movie about Joan Rivers the public spectacle, the woman with the loud, often abrasive opinions about everyone and everything – generally those who appeared, at least temporarily, superior only to fall on the sword of fame and fortune as so many have and continue to do so today. …

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About rorydean

Rory Dean is a multi-medium artist, writer and new media strategist with a background as a creative consultant and technology liaison in the San Francisco Bay Area. His broad experiences and specialties include print-to-web publicity, promotions and design marketing using traditional and social media networks. As a motion pictures and television professional, his short films, productions and commercials have screened to domestic and international audiences. His connections to a diverse client base include artists, entertainers, corporations, non-profits and everyday people.. Dean is co-owner and founder of Dissave Pictures, a boutique production company focusing on audio, video, photography and multi-media designs. Dean's personal and professional background includes dreaming and avid notebook journaling, creative and copy writing, promotions and marketing, audio/video production, photography, videography, editing, web design and new media. He’s also a fan of collaboration and knows when to turn the reigns over, offer feedback, lead the team and step aside. His portfolio includes print, online, film, video, photography, graphic design and promotions. He’ll show you. He has a book and everything. "When not juggling various online worlds, I do a pretty good mime – but that’s another story."

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