The Flowers of Robert Mapplethorpe (Philips CD-i) Complete Exhibition

It's the butt of many jokes here on the you tubes, but we think it's time for The Flowers of Robert Mapplethorpe for the Philips CD-i to speak for itself. This is a complete playthrough (?) of the disc's Curator and Exhibition modes, with all artwork and soundscapes included. The disc also features a Catalog mode that lets you zoom in each image individually - otherwise, this video captures the majority of the content featured in The Flowers of Robert Mapplethorpe. Enjoy!
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#RetroPals #PhilipsCDi #Mapplethorpe

[@PAULanthonyROMERO]

This is great to see again. I am the pianist on this recording. Mark Frankel is on the flute. Armen Annasian is the violinist, and Maggie is the cellist! Thanks for posting

[@thecinematicmind]

That’s awesome.

[@V0YAG3R]

PAULanthonyROMERO Do you happen to have the list of the songs used? Love those classical pieces!

[@germa2k]

Interesting

[@michaelj8582]

wow i just have to tell you that that, that’s just awful

[@PAULanthonyROMERO]

@@V0YAG3R There is a playlist somewhere. I can tell you on the top of my head that there are parts of Debussy, Poulenc, Bach, Faure, Prokofiev, Mozart, Ravel, etc.....

[@ChaunceyGardener]

Watching a bunch of early digitally compressed images through an composite video source through a 240p streamed video through an uncallibrated TFT LCD screen seems so be the best way to enjoy this.

[@01mail19]

You sir have just acknowledged the fact you are a total hipster

[@bundleization]

*takes fat bong hit Okay, im ready now

[@LegitMan335]

This feels very relaxing 😌 🌸 🌺 🌹 💐 🎼 🎶 🎹 🎻 *I want this to be my first CDI game if I ever get one* I don’t know much about this Robert Maplethorp , but I’ll bet he is one talented artist.

[@cygnus_XI]

Why don’t we have a speedrun of this game yet?

[@iiiDartsiii]

any cheat codes to skip levels? I can't seem to beat the third image.

[@exanimafilm]

Yo retro pals did ya hear about the new twisted metal rumor from david jaffe? Just wanna know what u think, also i love your PlayStation year one series!

[@m.a.packer5450]

Wow

[@josephlawson9950]

who the fuck is robert mapplethorpe from mike matei

[@EloGamer51]

Ah yes, Robert Mapplethorpe, the flower artist, the artist who is mostly known for photographing flowers, yeah.

[@PAULanthonyROMERO]

@@EloGamer51 😂😂😂😂

[@flaminashes4693]

This is what all the 90s kids got when they asked their parents for a copy of Doom.

[@victor.elkins]

No, I was there, and I assure you, absolutely no one got this title, or the CD-I itself, for any holiday, which is why Phillips lost 1 billion and almost went bankrupt over the project.

[@d.m.1070]

any Patricia Taxxon fans here? she made an album with this title and some sound clips

[@itsRhodi]

Yea holy shit. I first listened to that album a year ago and it's the closest I've ever come to describing an experience as spiritual. Seeing on my recommended warmed my heart, makes me wanna give it another listen

[@sjh3217]

Did Patricia Taxxon bring anyone else here?

[@marakarthegreat]

this is better than playing Lester the Unlikely

[@seaotter4439]

I came here from the Patricia Taxxon album. Goddamn, that was heartbreaking

[@DrewberTravels]

Excuse me? The flowers of Robert Mapplethorpe are no joke.

[@PAULanthonyROMERO]

I agree. Even though this video is pretty static and super boring, the music is relaxing. And the photos of the flowers have set a precedent and has actually influenced the following generation of photographers (in terms of how they see and photograph floral species)

[@jayjay86443]

Now let's speedrun it!

[@Mchenrygames]

I rather play this than Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

[@B3Band]

What about Simon's Quest?

[@ZenithalPoint]

Oh finally. Ive looked up for this for nearly every years after that AVGN episode but there was none that show full exhibition. Thanks a ton for this. By the way, all joke aside this actually somewhat satisfying experience to watch. Flowers and photo. Both really cool +music

[@AlejandroKar98k]

Well yes but you must be really boring to see it

[@jimmymoraitis9083]

Fingers crossed for a 4K remaster on PS5

[@Gecko1993HogheadIncOfficial]

What people don't realize: this guy DIED OF AIDS In 1989! Even his website is for the fight against this disease! This guy was a talented photographer, and I think this CDi "game" is rather cool!

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

I wonder if proceeds from this CD-i title went to AIDS research?

[@sneakysnake7695]

I now want the STDs of Robert Mapplethorpe

[@seinfan9]

@@sneakysnake7695 Time to perform the Necromancy of Robert Mapplethorpe.

[@MrStickman1997]

I don't dislike this, but... It should've been on a DVD, not a video game console...

[@B3Band]

@@MrStickman1997 This came out in 1992. There were no DVDs back then. It helps to know basic facts like this before commenting on what "should've" happened.

[@DrRobotnikPingas]

Better than lester the unlikely

[@TBONE_2004]

You should play the sequel, The Bondage Galleries of Robert Mapplethorpe... oh wait, that's an AO Rated game, which features a section involving a bull whip!

[@xneo329]

ESRB didn't exist when the CD-i came out.

[@TBONE_2004]

2:20 - *_MAPPLETHORPE REPEATEDLY TURNED TO FLOWERS..._*

[@B3Band]

And dude's buttholes

[@ashleysethboggs3378]

*morphs into a flower*

[@LG633TV]

It’s 9:00 at night, you’re driving home from a late shift at work and listening to NPR...

[@mutestingray]

This is NPR. Support for NPR comes from the Jacqueline Rosenbaum-Heidegger and Martin J. Johnson-Sniegowski Trust for the Arts, promoting culture in an increasingly ever-connected world.

[@rebilacx]

Is there a speedrun of this game?

[@PlayDifferent]

I can't believe I watched the whole thing.

[@Neilhammond64]

-Wow! Now I wanna play this game. -You just did.

[@funkyfeem727]

I discovered this through Avgn, I wanted to check it out was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did, literally just sat through the whole exhibition, and I'd definitely do it again.

[@TheRealCCall]

“I’d rather play a CD-i Game”

[@livinglikeananimal]

I pulled this up because I wanted to watch something soothing so I could go to sleep but got way too riled up instead looking at these flowers 🌶🌶🌶 🌹🌸💦

[@Evolinag]

Fun fact: Robert Mapplethorpe shot the album cover for Patti Smith's classic album "Horses".

[@DuplicatedOnce]

And Marquee Moon by Television!

[@gamertoon8230]

Better than Sonic Forces

[@philpeer7407]

Me in 1992 : Move over, Mario, Sonic, and F-Zero… Robert Mapplethorpe is the new game in town!

[@ThreeLeftOverCrest]

This looks ridiculous now, but it was one of the most popular games back then

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

I would think leaving the music to play through while the images change would've been perfect than what they went with here. It's a tad distracting to have it go to silence between pieces.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

I'm glad someone took the time to do this for YT! I was curious to see the whole thing.

[@imastrawberryman]

i said a centipede came to make the ground shake

[@Sweetestsadist]

How is this allowed to be up on KZbin? Someone needs to report this. There are children on this site.

[@retropals]

Can't believe the National Endowment for the Arts funds this filth

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

@@retropals All in the name of "ART"!

[@TheWingless]

At least cover this up with a fig-leaf or something!

[@nonbinarybastard]

Do u know nothing about art smh

[@yayoeliasgiron4892]

"No, I wouldn't."

[@charredwind]

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing this.

[@Boreality_]

"Alright"

[@therealhardrock]

This is likely the only photographic work of Mapplethorpe's that can actually be shown on KZbin. the elegant flower photographs with the lilting music make Mapplethorpe seem a lot more wholesome than he really was.

[@Astolfo2001]

The AVGN and Framerater brought me here.

[@JoeContext]

any% speedrun when

[@samdiego1965]

If you wanna get an idea of what kinda work Mapplethorpe was best known for, I think Homer’s reaction says it all in this 20 second video kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6rIcmWtn82HmZI

[@senorretard]

some of the people who comment on this piece...why you heff to be mad? is only game

[@someonenow1]

Humans are rude. This is actually really cool and soothing.

[@DrewPicklesTheDark]

I wonder if a sequel was planned that featured some of his other art.

[@TBONE_2004]

The Bondage Galleries of Robert Mapplethorpe, but I'd advise caution when playing! There's an entire section involving a bull whip!

[@darktetsuya]

I remember learning about this from avgn doing an OOC video about it... I thought it was odd I didn't remember some of those... other images lol!

[@Scottengelwalker]

you're doing a public service guys. get frank cifaldi on the line

[@Macistefx]

patricia taxxon fans i see you.

[@user-a6k9i6n9o6M]

I love this game XD

[@Kolbatsu]

Imma sample this someday

[@shellshock414]

Mmmmmm yeah....

[@benaiahburns4046]

Hi Retro Pals. Would you be interested in selling this title? I am trying to collect all of the US released games for the Philips CD-i, and this is one of the last titles I need. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to buy this item from you, if you are interested. Thank you and I hope you have a wonderful day!!!

[@someshkadam2441]

11:30 FRANKU!!!!

[@mutestingray]

These do be flowers doe 😳

[@cronostrife431]

Debatable

[@thetruepyromancer2928]

This is the type of commentary I listen to while I fall asleep. I couldn't give two shits about it and I'm bored to sleep

[@apl175]

Thank you for posting this - some might actually value this piece of eccentric Americana artwork. It's nice to be able to see the whole CD-i without the sarcastic and often rude commentary by other youtube reviewers.

[@B3Band]

awwww...youtubers hurt your wittle feelings?

[@chumbyvids]

@@B3Band nah it’s just interesting to see without someone laughing and yelling over it

[@copyer9088]

You must of had this game growing up?

[@Zevis48]

Cornball

[@lunita6972]

This is pure joy to me💙, thank you for your video.

[@mariogamefreak1]

Someone should try to speed run this game.

[@eukarya_]

What is the song that pkays at the begining of the exposition?

[@The1FieryBlaze]

Game of the year right here! 10/10

[@magicmaker15]

Muppet bayyy bees

[@ashleysethboggs3378]

*This “game” is triggering my existential crisis.*

[@bundleization]

Gg good speedrun

[@B3Band]

In 1998, the University of Central England was involved in a controversy when a library book by Mapplethorpe was confiscated. A final-year undergraduate student was writing a paper on the work of Robert Mapplethorpe and intended to illustrate the paper with a few photographs from Mapplethorpe, a book of the photographer's work. She took the photographs to the local chemist to be developed and the chemist informed West Midlands Police because of the unusual nature of the images. The police confiscated the library book from the student and informed the university that two photographs in the book would have to be removed. The two photographs were "Helmut and Brooks, NYC, 1978", which shows anal fisting, and "Jim and Tom, Sausalito, 1977", which is of a man clad in a dog collar, a leather mask and trousers, urinating into another man's mouth."[46][47][48] After a delay of about six months, the affair came to an end when Peter Knight, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, was informed that no legal action would be taken.[47][48] The book was returned to the university library without removal of the photos.[49]

[@fashionistalagerfeld1954]

Beautiful flowers

[@salucin]

1:41 -- long-winded way to say "this photograph is deliberately taken so that the flower resembles as a vagina."

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

I noticed Georgia O'Keeffe gets namedropped too. That's really all you need to know about both of 'em!

[@m.a.packer5450]

This has to be the most pretentious game ever made

[@michaelj8582]

absolutely. Some of the comments on here strengthen your point.

[@michaelj8582]

@@shade221 why are you replying to me not the original comment

[@michaelj8582]

@@shade221 so you’re just trying to argue with everyone. and I never said it was a game

[@michaelj8582]

@@shade221 cool im glad we can agree that modern art can be very pretentious. And to your credit, photos of flowers are objectively better and way less pretentious than alot of “art” ive seen.

[@Tor-Erik]

Who the hell is Robert Mapplethorpe? Well, he is the guy from the CD-I slideshow "game".

[@SeanTheOriginal]

I hope several people lost their jobs over this shit. This should have been a short documentary on PBS, not something people had to waste money on getting.

[@thecinematicmind]

I’m more amazed it wasn’t intended as a art book to begin with.