James Franco: Dangerous Book Four Boys [Hardcover]

James Franco (Author), Alanna Heiss (Editor), Klaua Biesenbach (Contributor), Diana Widmaier Picasso (Contributor), Frank Bidart (Contributor)

Book Description

Release date: April 17, 2012

Considered one of the finest actors of his generation, James Franco is also a multitalented writer and visual artist. Drawing from his experience in film and television work, Franco has produced a visually exciting and thought-provoking body of video works, multimedia installations, and large-scale sculptures.

Drawn from the exhibition curated by Alanna Heiss and organized by the Clocktower Gallery, James Franco: The Dangerous Book Four Boys explores themes of childhood and nostalgia, games and destruction.  Each experimental film, suite of drawings, and raw, childlike construction is presented as a window into the artist’s mind. This dense and often diaristic survey reflects Franco’s interest in the contemporary American landscape of adolescence and young adulthood. 

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James Franco is an Oscar-nominated actor, writer, and visual artist. Alanna Heiss was the Founding Director of P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, and is the Founder and Director of the Clocktower Gallery in New York and its radio station, ARTonAIR.org. Klaus Biesenbach is the Director of MoMA PS1, New York. Diana Picasso is a noted art historian. Frank Bidart is a professor of English and an award-winning poet. Niklas Maak is an art critic and journalist. Beatrice Johnson is the Managing Director of the Clocktower Gallery and its radio station, ARTonAIR.org. The book was designed by Richard Pandiscio, principal in Pandiscio Co., an award-winning design and branding firm.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Skira Rizzoli; First Edition edition (April 17, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847838137
• ISBN-13: 978-0847838134
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 1.1 x 12.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #509,504 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars An Inside Look Into How Conceited James Franco Really Is! May 7, 2012

By Mittie Vine

Format:Hardcover

There's a picture of James Franco with a flaccid rubber penis stuck to his face. No, really... there is. And in case you miss it the first time, it's shown over and over again, in different settings... like he legitimately adhered the meat knuckle to his face and wore it around all day. How ironic. It's referenced throughout the book as "dicknose." I'm convinced that the sole purpose of this book is that damn penis picture... the other 200-some pages are just filler.

Honestly, here's what I think happened: someone (not Franco) bought a cheap camera (to achieve that "faux vintage" feel), and proceeded to stop by each and every household featured on the TLC "Hoarders" show. This rogue artist then photographed the junk piles and picked the lousiest shots -- haphazard clusters of children's toys, dirty bed sheets, and paint-stained school chairs -- and uploaded them to Adobe Illustrator. Then someone -- still not James Franco -- went all crazy marking them up with random words and phrases like "Gucci" or "Eff You." Finally, James Franco attended a gallery opening somewhere and got his name attached to the "project" (is this a "project?") and donated pictures of his penis nose and... well, then this book -- I'm sorry, I mean "boomerang" -- came about. Oh... and something about William Faulkner in Paris. Yeah...

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars ? May 27, 2012

By M. Harman

Format:Hardcover

Why did I even take a look at this? Well, it wasn't my copy, and I admit that the novelty that is James Franco did cause me to give him another chance after Palo Alto. I liked him as an actor...I genuinely had respect for him after seeing him in "Freaks and Geeks," but his forays into publishing coupled with very poor reaction to course failure have destroyed my positive perception of him. I know that bringing up the outside factors are not necessarily appropriate in terms of a book review, but with Franco...it does seem to be what he is about...he has created a Franco brand, and this book unfortunately seems to be the latest installation in that line of products, a line of products that is growing increasingly disappointing. My advice...wait for a used copy.

4.0 out of 5 stars Impressed April 25, 2013

By That Pirate Chick

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was impressed with the quality of the book. The content...eh..The pictures have a Instagram feel to them. and most of the text is scribbled on by no other than James Franco!.. If you're looking to actually read about the exhibit...don't bother if you're looking to own a bit of art by James Franco then by all means get it. Fair warning it's most definitely a "rated R" book and not for the younger fans.