The “Le Baiser de l’Hotel de Ville” by Robert Doisneau,--- or more commonly known as “The Kiss at City Hall”. Taken in 1950 in Paris for Life Magazine, this photo has been downloaded, reproduced, published, sold, written, and talked about millions of times. From time to time, posters and replicas appear in movies and TV shows.
This photo's popularity is universal. Most reviews say that “it captures the eternity of a passionate kiss that transcends time and locale”. The artist's objective at the time this image was taken was to capture the everyday lives of ordinary people surrounding the Paris Occupation and Liberation. People say that in those times it “provided the image of hope after the dark days of WWII”.
There have been a lot of claims for the photo. Some people wanted to have a slice of the popularity pie. A couple 43 years after the image was released, claimed that they were the couple that appeared in Mr. Doisneau's photo. Denise and Jean-Louis Lavergne sued Mr. Doisneau and demanded US$80,000 from the artist, for not acknowledging them, and for saying that he hired a model for the shoot. Even the model wanted her share of US$18,000 ! In June of 1993 however, the court ruled against the couple saying that “a kiss is just a kiss and deserves no compensation.”
I guess, people will always be fascinated by the human kiss or the act of kissing. Movies, books, poems, and songs, and other forms of art, have been made revolving around the subject of kiss. (Even a band was named after it!). Growing up in the 80s, I remember singing along to the song “French Kissing in the USA” without really understanding what the song was about. I thought it was about people from France kissing in America. The tune really had a good recall, but as I matured (I’m assuming that I am now) I realized that my understanding of the song was sooo wrong. If I knew the meaning of the song in High School, I would be blushing so much from embarrassment and won't be singing it with much fervor. “Kisses hard, kisses deep, a kiss to wake us from our sleep. Take your lover by the hand, speak in tongues (whaaat?!) and understand”.
This photo's popularity is universal. Most reviews say that “it captures the eternity of a passionate kiss that transcends time and locale”. The artist's objective at the time this image was taken was to capture the everyday lives of ordinary people surrounding the Paris Occupation and Liberation. People say that in those times it “provided the image of hope after the dark days of WWII”.
There have been a lot of claims for the photo. Some people wanted to have a slice of the popularity pie. A couple 43 years after the image was released, claimed that they were the couple that appeared in Mr. Doisneau's photo. Denise and Jean-Louis Lavergne sued Mr. Doisneau and demanded US$80,000 from the artist, for not acknowledging them, and for saying that he hired a model for the shoot. Even the model wanted her share of US$18,000 ! In June of 1993 however, the court ruled against the couple saying that “a kiss is just a kiss and deserves no compensation.”
I guess, people will always be fascinated by the human kiss or the act of kissing. Movies, books, poems, and songs, and other forms of art, have been made revolving around the subject of kiss. (Even a band was named after it!). Growing up in the 80s, I remember singing along to the song “French Kissing in the USA” without really understanding what the song was about. I thought it was about people from France kissing in America. The tune really had a good recall, but as I matured (I’m assuming that I am now) I realized that my understanding of the song was sooo wrong. If I knew the meaning of the song in High School, I would be blushing so much from embarrassment and won't be singing it with much fervor. “Kisses hard, kisses deep, a kiss to wake us from our sleep. Take your lover by the hand, speak in tongues (whaaat?!) and understand”.
Now, every time I hear this song by Debbie Harry who is of course from the great 80s band Blondie, it takes me back to my high school days. Back to the time when most of us were innocent and naive--- when friends and I would cover our eyes during movie kissing scenes ("Top Gun" is the one specific movie that stands out in my memory), when we were traumatized every time we see couples kissing in public (eww), and convinced ourselves that NO our parents don’t kiss each other, ever (God NO!).
This generation is even more obsessed with the act of kissing. Isn’t there an award now for Best On-Screen Kiss in the MTV awards? Well I guess high school students now are not as coy as we were, back in the 80s. Now it's almost as natural as holding hands.
My husband and I made up a term called “e-kiss”. It’s the kiss you throw into cyberspace through SMS or chat messages and e-mails. E-kisses are sent when the recipient of your affection is not physically present.
Thanks to advanced technology, this emoticon :-* is now our new best friend ! It's priceless..
Additional source: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE0DE103BF93AA15757C0A965958260
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE3D71030F930A35755C0A965958260
This generation is even more obsessed with the act of kissing. Isn’t there an award now for Best On-Screen Kiss in the MTV awards? Well I guess high school students now are not as coy as we were, back in the 80s. Now it's almost as natural as holding hands.
My husband and I made up a term called “e-kiss”. It’s the kiss you throw into cyberspace through SMS or chat messages and e-mails. E-kisses are sent when the recipient of your affection is not physically present.
Thanks to advanced technology, this emoticon :-* is now our new best friend ! It's priceless..
Additional source: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE0DE103BF93AA15757C0A965958260
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE3D71030F930A35755C0A965958260
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