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Utterly Lazy and Inattentive: Martin Parr in Words and Pictures
Particular Books Utterly Lazy and Inattentive Martin Parr in Words and Pictures anglais ABISBOOK Particular Books.
- GenresPhotography
308 pages, Hardcover
Published September 4, 2025
About the author
Martin Parr
197 books70 followersMartin Parr was born in Epsom, Surrey, UK in 1952. When he was a boy, his budding interest in the medium of photography was encouraged by his grandfather George Parr, himself a keen amateur photographer.
Parr studied photography at Manchester Polytechnic, from 1970-1973. Since that time, Martin Parr has worked on numerous photographic projects. He has developed an international reputation for his innovative imagery, his oblique approach to social documentary, and his input to photographic culture within the UK and abroad.
In 1994 he became a full member of Magnum Photographic Corporation. In recent years, he has developed an interest in filmmaking, and has started to use his photography within different conventions, such as fashion and advertising.
In 2002 the Barbican Art Gallery and the National Media Museum initiated a large retrospective of Parr's work. This show toured Europe for the next 5 years.
Parr was appointed Professor of Photography in 2004 at The University of Wales Newport campus. He was Guest Artistic Director for Rencontres D'Arles in 2004. In 2006 he was awarded the Erich Salomon Prize and the resulting Assorted Cocktail show opened at Photokina. In 2008 he was guest curator at the New York Photo Festival, curating the New Typologies exhibition. At PhotoEspana, 2008, he won the Baume et Mercier award in recognition of his professional career and contributions to contemporary photography.
Parr studied photography at Manchester Polytechnic, from 1970-1973. Since that time, Martin Parr has worked on numerous photographic projects. He has developed an international reputation for his innovative imagery, his oblique approach to social documentary, and his input to photographic culture within the UK and abroad.
In 1994 he became a full member of Magnum Photographic Corporation. In recent years, he has developed an interest in filmmaking, and has started to use his photography within different conventions, such as fashion and advertising.
In 2002 the Barbican Art Gallery and the National Media Museum initiated a large retrospective of Parr's work. This show toured Europe for the next 5 years.
Parr was appointed Professor of Photography in 2004 at The University of Wales Newport campus. He was Guest Artistic Director for Rencontres D'Arles in 2004. In 2006 he was awarded the Erich Salomon Prize and the resulting Assorted Cocktail show opened at Photokina. In 2008 he was guest curator at the New York Photo Festival, curating the New Typologies exhibition. At PhotoEspana, 2008, he won the Baume et Mercier award in recognition of his professional career and contributions to contemporary photography.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 9, 2026
An absolute delight ❤️❤️❤️
June 20, 2026
The title of this book came from a comment Parr's grammar school teacher made about his academic performance. I wonder how many of us would have similar comments in our backgrounds, and how it might have affected us during our lifetimes.
Although I knew who Martin Parr was, I wasn't particularly familiar with his work. Decades ago, a friend gave me a copy of Boring Postcards and suggested that we collage/draw things over the postcards to make them less boring. It was a challenge that I readily accepted and had no problem recruiting others to participate.
This book was a bit of a surprise. It was interesting to read about Parr's development as a person and as a photographer. I had wondered if he would mention Bill Brandt and Tony Ray-Jones, two British photographers who I became aware of in the 1970s. Seeing Larry Sultan and Mike Mandel's book, Evidence, also made me smile, as they were photographers who I was familiar with.
The main take-away from this book, was to look at things from a different angle, think a little differently about what might be expected, and then turn the corner a bit. The other thing, is to keep looking, pay more attention than you think you need to.
This is a marvelous book.
Although I knew who Martin Parr was, I wasn't particularly familiar with his work. Decades ago, a friend gave me a copy of Boring Postcards and suggested that we collage/draw things over the postcards to make them less boring. It was a challenge that I readily accepted and had no problem recruiting others to participate.
This book was a bit of a surprise. It was interesting to read about Parr's development as a person and as a photographer. I had wondered if he would mention Bill Brandt and Tony Ray-Jones, two British photographers who I became aware of in the 1970s. Seeing Larry Sultan and Mike Mandel's book, Evidence, also made me smile, as they were photographers who I was familiar with.
The main take-away from this book, was to look at things from a different angle, think a little differently about what might be expected, and then turn the corner a bit. The other thing, is to keep looking, pay more attention than you think you need to.
This is a marvelous book.
December 29, 2025
he was a quirky star.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews