Has anyone seen Julie Taubman's photo book on Detroit?

**Carey** · December-13-11, 04:34 PM

Any reviews of Julie Taubman's "Detroit: 138 Square Miles?"

Amazon says it is out of stock. Laura Berman wrote about it, uncritically, in the News a few days ago. The Dec. 12 New Yorker carried a short article about Taubman and the book, which the writer described as containing "pictures of abandoned buildings and other derelict tableaux." Speaking of the images and Detroit, he added: "They want you to go there but maybe not stay." The book weighs 6.6 pounds. She signs books "Rust in Peace, JRT."

Taubman lives in Bloomfield Hills, but the story was set in New York, at her West Village duplex, with a spiral staircase and view of the Highline elevated park. She was hanging out with Elmore Leonard before a party in her honor at the Whitney Museum.

As the wife of Bobby Taubman and daughter-in-law of mall developer Alfred Taubman, Julie is very wealthy, and a member of the family that did an enormous amount to make Detroit's suburbs what they are today. It will be interesting to see her take on America's poorest big city, and how readers react to it.

**renf** · December-13-11, 08:04 PM

I have only read about this book in the New Yorker. I would like to see it. Are copies
now available?

**Neilr** · December-13-11, 09:49 PM

I ordered 2 copies on Amazon on Nov. 25. Their latest email estimated that the delivery date will be tomorrow, Dec. 14.

**sigmar** · December-14-11, 05:35 AM

If you're looking for the book in Detroit, I'm pretty sure you can buy it at MOCAD and the DIA. Its also available at BookBeat. Check out their review.
http://www.thebookbeat.com/backroom/2011/12/05/detroit-138-square-miles-elegance-rust-soul/

**DetroitZack** · December-14-11, 10:02 AM

I purchased my copy at MOCAD. Some great pictures in there, but it is pretty expensive.

**Detroitnerd** · December-14-11, 12:07 PM

I laughed my ass off when I heard Ms. Taubman was escorted by police to shoot Detroit's ruined buildings. Hahaha. No thanks...

**Wesley Mouch** · December-14-11, 12:17 PM

I met Ms. Taubman on part of this photo shoot. I've not seen the result, but I wouldn't judge the book by its cover, or by its parents cover so to speak. She seemed sincerely engaged. Being prejudiced isn't good.

**Detroitnerd** · December-14-11, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Wesley Mouch

I met Ms. Taubman on part of this photo shoot. I've not seen the result, but I wouldn't judge the book by its cover, or by its parents cover so to speak. She seemed sincerely engaged. Being prejudiced isn't good.

Her family made its loot by poaching shoppers from Detroit, building some of the most fabulously ugly, contrived environments surrounded by acres of parking lots. Now she's shooting pictures of abandoned Detroit, accompanied by guards, and signing the book "Rust in peace." Oh, yes. She seems very sincere. And drenched in enough irony to drown us all.

Oh, darn it! She isn't a problem. Her book isn't a problem. Her money-grubbing, felony-convicted, environment-destroying, parking-lot-building family isn't a problem.

It's me. I'm prejudiced.

**Wesley Mouch** · December-15-11, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

Her family made its loot by poaching shoppers from Detroit, building some of the most fabulously ugly, contrived environments surrounded by acres of parking lots. Now she's shooting pictures of abandoned Detroit, accompanied by guards, and signing the book "Rust in peace." Oh, yes. She seems very sincere. And drenched in enough irony to drown us all.

Oh, darn it! She isn't a problem. Her book isn't a problem. Her money-grubbing, felony-convicted, environment-destroying, parking-lot-building family isn't a problem.

It's me. I'm prejudiced.

That was quite a brutal thing they did. Going right into Downtown Hudsons, shooting and bagging those shoppers and dragging them out to Fairlane. They even cut their wallets open before forcing them to shop.

**Islandman** · December-15-11, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by Wesley Mouch

That was quite a brutal thing they did. Going right into Downtown Hudsons, shooting and bagging those shoppers and dragging them out to Fairlane. They even cut their wallets open before forcing them to shop.

Fine, remove Dnerd's first line in his post. Disagree with the rest? I don't. Rust in peace?!? Awesome.

**Eddieson** · December-22-11, 07:12 AM

If you want to see some photos and good stories by a local guy check out bruceharkness.com. Work was done during mid 70s to late 80s. Mostly done on his own, with minimal resources. Website chapters on Cass Corridor,
Poletown, Brush Park, but be prepared to do some reading. It makes the photos
all the more compelling.

**stromberg2** · February-03-12, 07:18 PM

http://bestplaces.nydailynews.com/st...-power-detroit

Stromberg2

**renf** · February-03-12, 08:16 PM

I purchased and carefully went through the new Taubman book about Detroit. The photographs are beautiful. She is clearly an accomplished artist. However, there is very little text to put her work
in context. And the emphasis is upon declining and troubled Detroit. From her book, you would
not realize that there are some revived and strong neighborhoods in the city and some areas of growth. I wish she had included a much more informed discussion of the trends influencing Detroit. Nevertheless, her skill as a photographer is to be praised.

**Lt. Dan Bassett** · February-03-12, 09:22 PM

ehhh, follow the money from a profligate overlay of motives. she clearly does not appear to need any profit$ from slumming with us. maybe a portion will go toward a literacy program in the city or to feed some of the more than 50% of children in Detroit who wake up hungry every day. Once again, every moment is a choice.

Occurrence · February-04-12, 02:41 AM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

I laughed my ass off when I heard Ms. Taubman was escorted by police to shoot Detroit's ruined buildings. Hahaha. No thanks...

She's a hack. Nobody buy her book.

**renf** · February-04-12, 08:50 AM

You may think of this book as an example of Ruin Porn but there is no reason to denigrate
her skills as a photographer. Her work is very competent. I was very surprised to read that she took a police escort with her to take pictures in Detroit. Many of us have taken pictures in Detroit neighborhoods and found most people to be friendly and helpful. Of course, we don't have the financial assets she has. There is no need for a police escort to take pictures in the neighborhoods of Motown.

SteveJ · February-04-12, 09:17 AM

I don't see anything wrong with have a police escort or security. It would be ignorant to think that a white girl with thousands of dollars worth of camera equipment wouldn't get robbed or killed in the hood. Its like people are forgetting the sick shit thats been going on there.

Occurrence · February-04-12, 01:55 PM

I know lots of white girls with expensive camera equipment who shoot photos and explore buildings in "the hood." They haven't been robbed and they don't use a police escort.

In fact, I thought the city is having major budget and police layoff issues? Since when do they have the resources to have police escort this hack around to take photos?

From what I have read, this woman can more than afford the best insurance for her equipment available anyways.

**FlyingJ** · February-05-12, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by Carey

West Village duplex, with a spiral staircase and view of the Highline elevated park.

You do know the Highline was restored into a rails-to-trails, it was built by the New York Central, the same outfit who built MCS? And the descendant of those guys was last seen hangin' out @ Bamboozle's on Twelve Mile:

http://thoroughlyandersoncooper.blog...3/natasha.html

SteveJ · February-05-12, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by Occurrence

I know lots of white girls with expensive camera equipment who shoot photos and explore buildings in "the hood." They haven't been robbed and they don't use a police escort.

In fact, I thought the city is having major budget and police layoff issues? Since when do they have the resources to have police escort this hack around to take photos?

From what I have read, this woman can more than afford the best insurance for her equipment available anyways.

You can hire police hours after hours and none of us would send our mother by herself to walk the streets of Highland park let alone with $10k worth of camera equipment.

Occurrence · February-05-12, 02:05 PM

I've seen a lot of her photos. She's not a bad photographer, but what she does doesn't warrant 10k in camera equipment.

The fact that she does hire a police escort cheapens the whole thing in my opinion. There are plenty of superior photographers around here who do this kind of thing and risk a lot just for their photos. They don't need to hire bodyguards to keep them safe.