Finkelstein, Mel. Host of the Year. 1966. Photograph. The Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. https://www.loc.gov/item/98500439/.
This photograph provides valuable context for exploring Truman Capote’s life and work, particularly when teaching In Cold Blood. Capote’s ability to host the iconic Black and White Ball stemmed from the success of his groundbreaking nonfiction novel, In Cold Blood, which chronicled the 1959 murder of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas. The image also connects to his later work, “La Côte Basque, 1965,” a fictionalized conversation between a socialite and her companion set in a New York restaurant frequented by Capote and his elite circle of wealthy, glamorous friends—known as “The Swans.” This controversial piece ultimately alienated him from New York’s high society, contributing to his personal and professional decline before his death on August 24, 1985.
Years before writing “La Côte Basque, 1965”, Truman Capote hosted the legendary Black and White Ball, where guests were instructed to wear black and white attire and don masks, which were dramatically removed at midnight. Held in The Plaza’s Grand Ballroom, the exclusive event boasted a guest list of more than 500 people and cost approximately $16,000—equivalent to more than $120,000 today. Funded by the immense success of In Cold Blood, Capote invited several figures connected to the novel, including local detective Alvin Dewey and Mrs. Roland Tate, the widow of the judge who presided over the Clutter trial. This extravagant soirée marked one of Capote’s last great social triumphs before his career and personal life unraveled. The publication of “La Côte Basque, 1965,” a chapter from his unfinished novel Answered Prayers, scandalized New York’s elite—many of whom had attended the ball—by exposing their private lives, leading to his social and professional downfall.
This photograph captures a moment from Truman Capote’s legendary Black and White Ball, held on November 28, 1966. Capote, an openly gay writer celebrated for his groundbreaking nonfiction novel In Cold Blood, hosted this extravagant event for more than 500 guests. Attendees included a dazzling array of socialites, artists, actors, writers, and politicians from across the globe. The guest of honor was Katharine Graham, publisher of The Washington Post.
- What historical time period might this photograph represent, and what clues in the image support this?
- What do the clothing and accessories reveal about the event or occasion being depicted?
- Why might the woman be wearing a mask, and how does it contribute to the mood or tone of the photograph?
- What might the role of the photographer have been in framing this moment, and how does the composition influence how we perceive it?
Common Core Literacy Standards, Ohio Learning Standards for Literacy in History
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RI.11-12.7: Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in different media or formats.
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RH.11-12.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, connecting insights gained from specific details to an understanding of the text as a whole.
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SL.11-12.2: Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats to make informed decisions.
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W.11-12.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas.
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- Capote’s public persona as a socialite and writer of high society contrasts sharply with the emotionally charged, grim narrative of In Cold Blood. His immersion into the lives of the Clutter family and the murderers reveals a departure from his glamorous world. Students can explore how Capote’s personal identity shaped his perception of the crime and his ability to humanize the killers, Perry Smith and Dick Hickock, in a way that mirrored his own complex, dual existence.
- Many of the people at Capote’s Black and White Ball were part of his social elite circle, known as “The Swans.” While the ball itself was an extravagant display of wealth and beauty, Capote’s social circle also included people like Alvin Dewey, the detective investigating the Clutter case, and others connected to the events of In Cold Blood. Students can explore his tendency to blur the lines between personal relationships and his literary ambitions.
- Capote’s journalistic approach in In Cold Blood raised ethical questions about the relationships between writer and subject. Just as Capote’s publication of “La Côte Basque, 1965” caused a scandal by exposing the secrets of his friends, his detailed portrayal of the Clutter family’s murder and the killers’ lives raised concerns about the ethics of writing about real people’s tragedies, especially when the writer develops personal connections to the subjects.
- Discussion Questions for Deeper Analysis:
- In In Cold Blood, Capote developed intimate relationships with the murderers, Perry Smith and Dick Hickock, to gain access to their inner lives. Was this emotional closeness manipulative, or was it necessary for achieving a deeper understanding of their humanity?
- Similarly, in “La Côte Basque, 1965,” Capote mined the secrets of his wealthy socialite friends for his fiction. Does an artist’s right to creative expression justify exposing deeply personal information, whether about killers or confidants?
- Both works blur the line between truth and storytelling. In In Cold Blood, Capote claimed to have created a “non-fiction novel,” but critics have questioned the accuracy of his account. Did Capote’s artistic embellishments compromise the truth for the sake of narrative impact?
- “La Côte Basque, 1965” similarly straddles reality and fiction, using real-life inspirations but presenting them as fictionalized conversations. Does Capote’s selective storytelling in both cases distort the truth, or does it reveal a deeper emotional or social reality?
- Can we celebrate the artistry of a writer who often operated in ethically ambiguous territory?
- Exclusivity and Privilege: The Black and White Ball was a flashy display of wealth and privilege. Talking about this event might come across as glorifying exclusivity, which could feel uncomfortable for students from different backgrounds.
- Contrast Between Capote’s Work and Lifestyle: It’s a bit jarring that Capote, who wrote In Cold Blood about ordinary people facing tragedy, celebrated his success with such an over-the-top party. Students might pick up on the disconnect and question whether that’s hypocritical.
- Sexuality and Identity: Capote was openly gay at a time when that wasn’t widely accepted, so his life offers a chance to discuss LGBTQIA+ history and representation. However, in certain communities, those discussions could spark controversy.
- Truman Capote, three-quarter length portrait, facing right, standing in the living room of the Clutter house, where four members of the Kansas family were murdered in 1959, which was the basis for his novel, In Cold Blood.
- By showing Capote inside the Clutter home, this photo can address ethical questions about the role of a journalist in telling the story of a real-life tragedy. Discussing whether it is right for a writer to “exploit” a tragedy for artistic purposes or how far a journalist should go in embedding themselves within the lives of those they write about can stimulate critical thinking about journalistic ethics.
- This image offers a much more focused, nuanced entry point into Capote’s process and the ethical dimensions of his work, making it a great alternative to the Black and White Ball photo. It connects more directly to In Cold Blood and helps students engage with the complexities of Capote’s writing and the ethical questions raised by his approach to storytelling.
- National Endowment for the Humanities. “Tru Life: How Truman Capote Became a Cautionary Tale of Celebrity Culture,” n.d. https://www.neh.gov/humanities/2017/summer/feature/tru-life.
- Ross, Daniel. “Truman Capote Biography.” American Masters, August 10, 2022. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/truman-capote-about-the-author/58/.
- Young, James B. “Truman Capote as a Poet.” Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal 19, no. 4 (January 1, 2023): 104–6. https://doi.org/10.14797/mdcvj.1270.
- Encyclopedia of Alabama. “Capote, Truman - Encyclopedia of Alabama,” April 1, 2024. https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/truman-capote/.