Larry Clark - Die Perfekte Kindheit

First edition, published by Scalo Verlag, 1993. Larry Clark is a living icon of American film, a director, photographer, writer and film producer. His controversial works include the photography monographs Tulsa (1971) Teenaged Lust (1983) and his film debut, Kids (1995). Clark can be considered a genuine auteur, his work primarily focuses on the experiences of the 'American Youth', exploring gender, sex, drugs, violence and subculture, and have served us influences for contemporaries including Van Sant and Scorsese. "Die perfekte kindheit" is a thought provoking insight into male adolescent sexuality and deviancy. Clark collates images of the nude male, often erect, with that of the mainstream media. 1980s teen idols such as Corey Haim compete for space with rural teen satanists, whilst faded newspaper clippings report on teenage villains, complimented by scenes of fellatio. Critics too often dismiss Clark as obscene, however "Die perfekte kindheit" serves as a clear rebuttal. The reader is not encouraged to objectify the male form, but rather deconstruct hegemonic male masculinity, and their concept of the 'All America Boy'. "Die perfekte kindheit" is a rare and important insight into Larry Clark and the genre he has mastered.