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Angela Romero-Monsalve English 414

Nancy Sours 2012

Metamorphosis: A Transformation From Book Caterpillar to Rock Star Butterfly

The memoir Just Kids, is more than Patti Smith’s narrative of her life as a suburban

teenager and as a bohemian artist in New York City; it’s an elegy to a knight that paves the

road towards her destiny of becoming a revered artist and rock star, “the artist of [her]

life” (53), Robert Mapplethorpe. Alienated by the machinelike working conditions at a

factory, stigmatized by getting pregnant out-of-wedlock and giving her baby away, and

expelled from a teacher’s college, Smith decides to move to New York to start a new life,

liberating herself from the suburban confines of southern New Jersey. In New York City,

she meets several important people; however, no one has a more pivotal role than Robert

Mapplethorpe. His varied roles—from cultivator of her confidence, to catalyst of her work,

finally and more importantly to a devotee of hers, Mapplethorpe orchestrates her life in a

manner, which results in her stellar career as an artist.

Throughout their relationship, Mapplethorpe is a continuous driving force,

cultivating Smith’s confidence and assisting in her journey from insecure teenager to

confident woman. Self-esteem is the main pillar of confidence, and it’s central to people’s

lives because it’s directly related to the amount and scale of their accomplishments. People

with low self-esteem don’t pursue challenging activities because they are afraid of failure.

On the other hand, those with high self-esteem believe they can successfully complete

challenges, so they attempt them more often. When Smith meets Mapplethorpe, she is

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depressed and has a shattered self-esteem as a result of the emotional and physical wounds

inflicted by her out-of-wedlock pregnancy. She confides in Mapplethorpe and “through his

support [she] is able to conquer [her] deep self-consciousness.” (43) He is patient, caring,

and understanding of her condition where most people are not.

Mapplethorpe’s confidence-building force is evident throughout their relationship.

Before Smith is recognized as a talented artist, she doesn’t believe in herself, often saying

that there is “no proof that [she] has the stuff to be an artist.”(11) However, Mapplethorpe

convinces her that she is talented and that they will “make it, with or without the rest of the

world.” (53) He does not just promise wonders to Smith, but he is actively engaged in her

artistic development. For instance, she develops a strong confidence by reading to him as

he listens to her during their nightly rituals. As a result, she is able to perform at poetry

readings that propel her career forward, such as the St. Mark’s Church reading. Throughout

their relationship, Mapplethorpe tenderly heals the wounds inflicted upon her by

unforgiving teenage years while plowing the soil that enables Smith to bloom as a mature,

confident woman.

A central pillar of their relationship is their mutual pursuit of artistic endeavors.

Mapplethorpe has profound catalytic effect by channeling her disorganized artistic efforts.

For example, he is focused and goal oriented, determined to make it as a successful artist,

whereas Smith is disorganized and chaotic, procrastinating in the ebb and flow of artistic

creativity, frequently reaching a creative wall. While their approach to art is dichotomous

in nature, they always find common ground on which to flourish. Without Mapplethorpe,

she complains about not being able to finish her work, claiming that her room mirrors the

“bright mess of [her] interior world.” (155) On the contrary, after creating art with

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Mapplethorpe, she remarks, “his ability to concentrate for long periods infected me.” (65)

This bond of mutual admiration and respect weaves itself into their life, strengthening

throughout the duration of their relationship. For instance, when Mapplethorpe is close to

death, she notes that their later photographs are “more intimate, for they spoke of nothing

but of [their] common trust.” (223) By creating art together, they not only strengthen their

bond of friendship and trust, but also develop a mutual appreciation and admiration for

each other’s work. In addition, their relationship extends beyond their home, and it was

then, were opportunities present to Smith.

Smith reaches her destiny as a result of innumerable social interactions forged by,

and in part through, Mapplethorpe’s networking efforts. Since Mapplethorpe is determined

to become successful, he knows that befriending other artists and celebrities and

socializing with the cream of society will help them advance their artistic pursuits. Smith,

on the other hand, enjoys staying at home reading literature and creating poetry. Despite

Smith’s “introverted bouts” (65), Mapplethorpe decides to frequent Max’s Kansas City, a

club at the hub of New York’s artistic life, where Andy Warhol’s social sphere gravitates.

At first, Smith doesn’t want to go to Max’s because she feels awkward and out of place, but

then, she stops being “so judgmental and gets in to the swing of things.” (123) When they

“graduate to the back room” (125), they gain access to the most influential artists of their

era, which is Mapplethorpe’s goal. In fact, several individuals they meet at Max’s have a

significant effect on their lives. For example, Mapplethorpe is invited to the premiere of

Trash at the Factory where Smith meets Gregory Corso, one of the beat poets. Corso, who

eventually mentors Smith, gives her a “list of books to read” while “encouraging and

challenging [her].”(138) Smith, being an introvert, would never have met several influential

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people who changed her life, if it hadn’t been for Mapplethorpe’s effort to extend their

social circle.

Beyond paving social roads, Mapplethorpe serves as an architect of Smith’s life,

carefully designing and orchestrating pivotal events that result in her being a successful

rock star and illustrious poet. She is timid in exposing her poetry to the world, often saying

to him, “you hearing me. That’ is enough for me”. (162) However, Mapplethorpe makes her

promise that she will do a poetry reading. He asks Gerard Malanga, a coveted and

influential poet of the era, if Smith can open for him at the St. Mark’s Church reading, a

highly sought-after literary event even for accomplished poets. The crème de la crème of

New York’s artistic scene attends, from Andy Warhol, to Lou Reed, to Gregory Corso. After

Smith’s shock-laden, nevertheless successful, electric guitar and poetry performance, she is

“bombarded with steaming offers” (182), ranging from record proposals to publishing

contracts to acting performances. Pondering her life, she admits, that Mapplethorpe has

“plans for himself but for [her] as well” (127) and that he “is the one that [gets] things

done” (127) because he has “ the drive and focus.” (127) While this is not the only

performance Mapplethorpe orchestrates, it is the one that redefines her as a

groundbreaking artist, putting her on the map while opening a portal of opportunities.

Throughout their relationship, they refine and broaden the concept of love, from

lovers, to brother and sister, to “indefinable devotion” (200) to each other. Mapplethorpe’s

influence permeates all levels of Smith’s self, from the profound, such as cultivating her

confidence, to the materialistic, such as financing her artistic pursuits. In concert, it is his

devotion and love, for Mapplethorpe always says that he “saw in [her] more than [she]

could see in [herself]” (192), that provide Smith with a stable platform on which to succeed.

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He finances her first album “Hey Joe” (243), which has a B-side, “Piss Factory.” (243)

Mapplethorpe rescues “Piss Factory” (243) from Smith’s trashed room, thinking it is an

outstanding poem. Literally, if it were not for him, this album would have never been

recorded. Moreover, this album leads to a series of events that culminate in Smith

performing at CBGB, a show that Bob Dylan attends. After the show, Smith ponders how

she “ finally felt [her] own worth…[she] had become fully [herself].”(248) This event

symbolizes the culmination of her metamorphosis not only because it marks her initiation

as a rock star, but more importantly because she is finally able have confidence in herself

and to see what other people have seen in her all along—her sheer talent.

In essence, Mapplethorpe is an architect, carefully designing Smith’s path, aligning

the dominoes of her life--grooming her confidence, strengthening her conviction in her art,

orchestrating events, widening their social circle, and above all devoting himself to her.

Waiting beside her and having precisely aligned the pieces, Mapplethorpe urges Smith to

topple the first domino, setting off a chain reaction of events that allows her amazing

destiny to unfold.

Angela Romero

@AngelaLRomero

linkd.in/HHe3ld

madamecroquette.wordpress.com

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