NUBIAN KNIGHTS NETWORK: Maia: Prometheus (Hardcover) Black Male Nudes by Brazilian Photographer Marcelo Maia

QUOTATIONS OF "BLACK"

"Whenever I use BLACK it relates to some history of Africans in that particular place. It’s the idea of the color BLACK as a metaphor, or as a representation of African-Americans. It’s the notion of BLACK- BLACKNESS - and all its other meanings in relation to the history of race..."

- Fred Wilson

"Most of my fortitude to continue doing the work comes from the moral outrage I feel about the injustices that Black people endure disproportionately daily."

- N. Abdul-Wakil

"In the end, what matters is not skin shade but pan-African consciousness. Loving your complexion, your nose, lips, hair length and texture, no matter what the politics or trends decide, and simply be. That's the problem with us (African folks). We're still learning how to love ourselves. So used to glorifying others and putting others first..."

- Dredlocks Tree

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Maia: Prometheus (Hardcover)
Black Male Nudes by
Brazilian Photographer Marcelo Maia

Man! I got a good value after going to the post office to pick up Maia: Prometheus. This little hardcover book is out-of-print. It measures a small and low profile 4.25" wide by 6.25" in height by 0.5" thick. I got a good value because if you look on Amazon.com there are merchants selling the book from $14.00 (which is what I paid for it plus $7.00 for expedited shipping) all the way up to a staggering $394.86!!!!! I have a policy of not buying anything used (It has to be in fine to mint condition), and if I'm feeling desperate I may go for very good condition. The merchant I respect and got it from was Powells Books (their last copy) and the grade was "Used - Acceptable" (aka "good condition" which is far less than my usual standards. I took a leap of faith as it has been at the back of my mind for some time to acquire. Anyway, I lucked out and got a perfectly mint condition book with a fine to near mint cover. Go figure. The original retail price on the book is $13 duckets. So in essence I paid $1 ducket more for an out-of-print book from over 10 years ago!!

As you might have already guessed, Maia: Prometheus is a book of black & white photography of nude Black men. The photography is quite superb in it's artistic approach, and the book's small low profile size works very damn well in the looks department! There are 48 picture plates altogether.

The book is described as... "In this lyrical first collection from photographer Marcello Maia, the Black male nude as subject is taken beyond conventional expectation and experience. Working specifically with the formal elements of composition and light, Maia not only dramatically displays the beauty of the male form but also challenges the existing depictions of Black men as photographic subject. Sensual, erotic, beautiful, and stunning, Marcelo Maia's work is sure to attract a wide audience appreciative of both the technical skill and artistic grace of his portraits."

The photography is quite excellent and the portraits comes across as works of art and not soft-porn for the sake of showing off like a lot of other books do.

I came across this book at my friend Antonio's house and have always wanted it for years now. I got my wish at a ridiculously low price and real happy now.