Jean-Michel Basquiat

[My Heart is a Molotov]

I had a search of this board and couldn't find any threads mentioning him.

Anyway, I recently starting learning a bit about Jean-Michel Basquiat at school, and I was interesting what people thought of his art or his life as an artist.

Does anyone know of any good essays that analyse/critique him and/or his work? I've read the Robert Hughes one, but I was wandering if anyone knows of a leftist, African or Haitian perspective.

Also, what do people on here generally think about Basquiat?

[The Feral Underclass]

He employs loads of different Mordernist styles, which I have no problem with, I like modernist art, but he isn't doing anything different or better than those he borrows from. Which again isn't a problem in terms of creating art generally, but I find it difficult to appreciate unoriginal art that uses already defined techniques without presenting anything new about them. Not that any of my canvas painting does that I'd like to point out.

It's interesting, it's enjoyable to look at and vaguely political. He is also another one of those people to die at 27. I'm sure there's a conspiracy. They all seem to die at 27, have you noticed that?