Schoenfeld, Wayne. Brittle Glory: The Face of Change. Photographs by Wayne Schoenfeld.

SWC, 2001. 1st edition. Stiff wraps, as issued, very good plus with minor wear and creases at corners. Stiff wraps, as issued, very good plus with minor wear and creases at corners. Introductory texts by T. Keilor Bentley and Peter Frank. Finely reproduced black-and-white photographs of people in Cuba and Southeast Anatolia, Turkey. Includes portrait of the photographer and bio, which mentions that Schoenfeld exhibits in Southern California, that he has published another book called Surface Tensions on the human form, and that he also is a licensed sex therapist and commercial aircraft pilot, among other accomplishments. Summary:

Published in 1999, Brittle Glory: The Face of Change is a compelling photographic monograph by Wayne Schoenfeld.. The book serves as a poignant ethnographic study, capturing societies standing on the precipice of sweeping cultural and industrial transformation.

Core Themes and Subject Matter

The book focuses on two distinct geographic regions—Cuba and Southeast Anatolia, Turkey—using them as case studies for how traditional lifestyles persist and falter under the pressure of the modern world.

• Human Landscapes: Schoenfeld utilizes stark, finely reproduced black-and-white photography to document the everyday lives of laborers, families, and street scenes.

• The Concept of "Brittle Glory": The title reflects the fragile, fading beauty of cultures that are rich in tradition but vulnerable to political and economic shifts.

• Documentary Portraiture: Rather than sweeping landscapes, the book prioritizes the human face, seeking to find universal emotions within specific cultural contexts.

Structural Highlights

• Introductory Essays: The volume features commentary by T. Keilor Bentley and the prominent art critic Peter Frank, which helps contextualize Schoenfeld’s work within the broader tradition of social documentary photography.

• Juxtaposition: By pairing images from the Caribbean and the Middle East, the book draws subtle parallels between disparate cultures facing similar "faces of change."

About the Photographer

Wayne Schoenfeld is known for his eclectic background—ranging from commercial pilot to clinical therapist—which informs his empathetic approach to his subjects. In Brittle Glory, his lens avoids the "tourist" gaze, opting instead for a gritty, respectful realism that emphasizes the dignity of his subjects amidst their decaying or changing environments.