From the Paradigm Magazine "Rear Window" series of interviews by Theo Constantinou, filmed by Eric Ashleigh, in January 2012 on a freezing day walking around New York City's East Village.
Theo's introduction:
There was this book I had seen when I was in high school called Fuck You Heroes, by Glen E. Friedman. That book and those memories, prior to Google images and blogs, was where I saw every iconic punk and skate image that shaped my 15 year old mind, ethos and approach to skateboarding. I knew before I wrote my interview with Glen that I could gear the questions primarily towards his photographs, and we could talk for hours about those images and their impact on not only myself, but the other like minded punks I knew over a decade ago. What I was thinking about while writing this interview with Glen, is the same thing I think about when I write each of my interviews now; how can I push the scope of what Glen will talk to me about if I ask him something that will alter not only the way I think of something, but maybe inspire, like Glen’s photographs, some 15 year old kid’s perspective from my interview with him. For me, that is exactly what happened: an altered perspective and a motto to remember everyday while trying to achieve one’s goals. “And that’s just all there is to it. Don’t care about what other people think about what you’re doing, if you’re inspired to do something, if you want to do something, if you have some kind of feeling that you should do something … then you should just do it; don’t let what other people’s preconceived ideas of good behavior, or whatever it is, limit you to thinking what you should and shouldn’t do.” If you are inspired to do something, do it. Don’t make excuses for yourself or let someone else tell you your inspiration is no good. Glen taught me a lot that day and continues to inspire, I hope this video does the same for you.
Paradigm Magazine:
http://paradigmmagazine.com
Paradigm Magazine's You Tube channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/ParadigmMagazine?feature=watch
Glen E. Friedman Live Discussion Moderated by Alec MacKaye at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library, Washington DC (2015) from Burning Flags Press on Vimeo.
On October 25th 2015, Glen E. Friedman and Alec MacKaye sat down in front of a standing room only audience in the Grand Hall of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library in Washington DC where the DC PUNK ARCHIVE is held. It was one of several events to celebrate the 1st anniversary of of the Punk Archive. They had a discussion about Glen's work and answered questions from the audience. This is a simple one camera lo-fi documentation of the event.
Special thanks to Vicente Gutierrez at Highway magazine (http://www.highwaymagazine.info) for being instrumental in creating and promoting the event with Michelle Casto and Maggie Gilmore at the DC Punk Archive (http://dclibrary.org/punk).
As part of the DC Punk Archive one-year anniversary celebrations, Alec MacKaye will lead a talk with the iconic skate, punk and hip hop photographer, Glen E. Friedman, often called the most important photographer of his generation.or
Friedman’s photographs of local groups Minor Threat, Fugazi, Bad Brains, as well as Black Flag, Public Enemy, Run-DMC, Beastie Boys, Dead Kennedy’s and Ice-T along with classic skateboarding originators Tony Alva, Jay Adams, Lance Mountain, Allan “Ollie” Gelfand and Tony Hawk, to name a few, are recognized internationally.
His definitive monograph, MY RULES, features never-before-seen images and personal reflections from some of his subjects, giving readers an unprecedented window into the most significant youth countercultures of the last 40 years. Upshur Street Books will have copies of MY RULES for sale, there will be a book signing after the event, and Smash Records will be in the building with some vinyl. Thank you to HIGHWAY Magazine and the DC Public Library Foundation for making this event possible.
For more information about the DC Punk Archive visit dclibrary.org/punk
As part of the DC Punk Archive one-year anniversary celebrations, Alec MacKaye will lead a talk with the iconic skate, punk and hip hop photographer, Glen E. Friedman, often called the most important photographer of his generation.or
Friedman’s photographs of local groups Minor Threat, Fugazi, Bad Brains, as well as Black Flag, Public Enemy, Run-DMC, Beastie Boys, Dead Kennedy’s and Ice-T along with classic skateboarding originators Tony Alva, Jay Adams, Lance Mountain, Allan “Ollie” Gelfand and Tony Hawk, to name a few, are recognized internationally.
His definitive monograph, MY RULES, features never-before-seen images and personal reflections from some of his subjects, giving readers an unprecedented window into the most significant youth countercultures of the last 40 years. Upshur Street Books will have copies of MY RULES for sale, there will be a book signing after the event, and Smash Records will be in the building with some vinyl. Thank you to HIGHWAY Magazine and the DC Public Library Foundation for making this event possible.
For more information about the DC Punk Archive visit dclibrary.org/punk
