American culture is officially an oxymoron
And currently up for online bids is bronze-plated proof, courtesy of Hollywood's first family of freakdom:
Though upon reading this my first instinct was to deem everyone involved in any step of this... thing's production or dissemination sick and wrong–squared; in fact they are all merely playing out the great American tradition of blending truth and fiction until audiences, so far as they're entertained, cease to give a crap.
From reality television to true crime to President Bush's "Mission Accomplished" (or his new assassination film), give the people a choice among dull but confirmed reality, engaging but predictable narrative and grotesque but magnetically plausible theatre, you can bet they'll line up to gawk at the last.
Any X-Philes out there will be familiar with this bit of homegrown showmanship and advertising history, but for everyone else, go check out the tale of the Feejee Mermaid, one of P.T. Barnum's delightful bits of "humbug."
Not only is it a cool story, but this humble and chimerical creature illuminates an enduring facet of our national character: That to get people buzzing and ponying up their money, forget straight reality and full-on fakery–we're most enamored of what lies somewhere in between.
Politicians also realize this–that though most Americans can't name their congressmen or Supreme Court Justices, odds are they're up on all their oratorical faux pas, sex scandals, major photos ops and celebrity co-minglings.
That's why I think it would be a much more politically adventurous and all-around engaging election come 2008 if the candidates choose desiccated and deformed pieces of quasi-humanity or zoological oddity spewed forth from dark and uncharted fathoms as running mates.
No, not Lieberman, Rove or even Katherine Harris–who wouldn't want to fully participate and own our own democracy if '08 became a contest between Clinton-Chupacabra and Obama-Ogopogo to take on McCain-Mothman?
But I suppose, I'm getting ahead of myself here–I should probably wait and see who that ubiquitous and supernaturally well-connected space alien the Weekly World News always captures hobnobing around at the Capitol decides to endorse.
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have yet to show their baby daughter off in public, but eager fans were given an unusual preview with the chance to see a bronze cast depicting her first solid stool.Do click on the link–there's a picture. Classy.
The scatological sculpture -- more doodoo than Dada -- is purportedly cast from 19-week old Suri's first bowel movement and will be shown at the Capla Kesting gallery in Brooklyn, New York, before being auctioned off for charity.
Though upon reading this my first instinct was to deem everyone involved in any step of this... thing's production or dissemination sick and wrong–squared; in fact they are all merely playing out the great American tradition of blending truth and fiction until audiences, so far as they're entertained, cease to give a crap.
From reality television to true crime to President Bush's "Mission Accomplished" (or his new assassination film), give the people a choice among dull but confirmed reality, engaging but predictable narrative and grotesque but magnetically plausible theatre, you can bet they'll line up to gawk at the last.
Any X-Philes out there will be familiar with this bit of homegrown showmanship and advertising history, but for everyone else, go check out the tale of the Feejee Mermaid, one of P.T. Barnum's delightful bits of "humbug."
Not only is it a cool story, but this humble and chimerical creature illuminates an enduring facet of our national character: That to get people buzzing and ponying up their money, forget straight reality and full-on fakery–we're most enamored of what lies somewhere in between.
Politicians also realize this–that though most Americans can't name their congressmen or Supreme Court Justices, odds are they're up on all their oratorical faux pas, sex scandals, major photos ops and celebrity co-minglings.
That's why I think it would be a much more politically adventurous and all-around engaging election come 2008 if the candidates choose desiccated and deformed pieces of quasi-humanity or zoological oddity spewed forth from dark and uncharted fathoms as running mates.
No, not Lieberman, Rove or even Katherine Harris–who wouldn't want to fully participate and own our own democracy if '08 became a contest between Clinton-Chupacabra and Obama-Ogopogo to take on McCain-Mothman?
But I suppose, I'm getting ahead of myself here–I should probably wait and see who that ubiquitous and supernaturally well-connected space alien the Weekly World News always captures hobnobing around at the Capitol decides to endorse.
posted by Holly at 4:18 AM
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