That Shelf
About halfway through
Bad Attitude: The Art of Spain Rodriguez, Susan Stern, the film’s director and producer and wife of Spain Rodriguez films herself holding a drawing of herself done by Rodriguez. The drawing, which features a naked Stern in garters staring back at the viewer, is accompanied by Stern’s voiceover, asking a poignant and essential question:
“Did I make this film to defend Spain, or to defend myself?”
An opinionated provocateur, Spain Rodriguez always believed in comics as a serious art form, one which could be and ultimately would be intellectualized. While his early work was rooted in science fiction and superhero lore, his later work explored diverse, more literary subjects, including a graphic biography of Che Guevara, and an exploration of California’s farm labor struggles. At 71 minutes, the film is a revved-up ride through the life of one of underground comix most polarizing and celebrated artists. Like a rock n’ roll brain come to
2021 Slamdance Film Festival Movie Review: Bad Attitude: The Art of Spain Rodriguez
By
Title: ‘Bad Attitude: The Art of Spain Rodriguez’
Director: Susan Stern
The social commentary that’s driving the conflicts and changes in modern society is largely rooted in history, which once again proves that humanity often doesn’t learn from its past mistakes. The new documentary, ‘Bad Attitude: The Art of Spain Rodriguez,’ is offering a stunning exploration into the edgy underground comic books that explore social injustices and were created by the title illustrator throughout his career, which spanned from the 1960s to his death in 2012.
Susan Stern Discusses Spain Rodriguez’s Comic Imprint in Bad Attitude: The…
Susan Stern Discusses Spain Rodriguez’s Comic Imprint in Bad Attitude: The Art of Spain Rodriguez Doc | Slamdance 2021 [Exclusive Interview]
Spain Rodriguez was a pioneer in the underground comics scenes.
As a rabble-rouser, he told his experience, story, and personality through the reflections with his art. Although sometimes very political and controversial, his comic influences shaped the industry we have today.
In the documentary
Bad Attitude: The Art of Spain Rodriguez, Rodriguez’s wife Susan Stern told the story through the lens by capturing his personal history.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Sunday February 07, 2021 - 10:45:00 AM
Bad Attitude: The Art of Spain Rodriguez, a new feature film about the Bay Area comic legend who created the iconic working-class rebel known as Trashman, will have its World Premiere during the virtual 2021 Slamdance Film Festival February 12-25. (The Utah-based Slamdance festival specializes in featuring films by emerging talents, with production costs of less than $1 million.)
BAD ATTITUDE: The Art of Spain Rodriguez (71 Minutes, Not Yet Rated) was directed by Spain s partner, Emmy-nominated filmmaker Susan Stern, and it features interviews with a galaxy of cartoon superstars, including R. Crumb, Art Spiegelman, Trina Robbins, Aline Kominsky-Crumb, Ed Piskor, Ishmael Reed, Susie Bright, Cynthia Rodriguez, Robert Williams, Kim Deitch, Jay Kinney, Ken & Maxine Weaver, René Yañez, Yolanda López, Rio Yañez, Gary Groth, Andi Zeisler, Billy Martino, Janet Underwood, Ian de Beer, and Nora Rodriguez.
Moving, thought-provoking, both personal and political, Bad Attitude: The Art of Spain Rodriguez explores the controversial art and life of the legendary underground cartoonist through the lens of his wife, Emmy-nominated filmmaker Susan Stern.
From the propaganda comics of WWII, to the underground comics breakthrough in 1960s New York and San Francisco, to the graphic novels of today, Bad Attitude is an enthralling history of comics and a rousing call to art and activism. Featuring a roster of friends and family, Bad Attitude dives deep into Spain s life with insight from comics luminaries R. Crumb, Art Spiegelman, Trina Robbins, Aline Kominsky-Crumb, and Ed Piskor, and features animation by Spain s daughter, the New York-based artist, Nora Rodriguez.