I'm reading a book that I recommend. It is entitled The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay and is a historic fantasy (meaning the central characters are fictional but many of the incidental ones are not) about two cousins who make it big in the comic book trade. The story begins in the latter half of the 1930's and blends and contrasts lots of brooding, gathering menace from the other side of the Atlantic with the jazzy, snappy, hopeful American optimism.
The 1939 New York World's Fair was the last bit of American bravado and optimism before the onset of World War II. The two structures shown in the poster, the 700-foot Trylon and 200-foot Perisphere, symbolized this vision of an ordered but enlightened future where progressive social ideas and technology made everyone's life ideal.
I think it fascinating that, within one generation of this event, the ideal for many American youth would be a "back to the earth" self-sufficiency, where herbs and organic food, communal living, open relationships, sexual freedom, and the vagabound life reflected the new society.
Growing up in the fifties I believe I was introduced to the deferred dreams of my parents generation; financial security, prosperity, an orderly society where you played by the rules, and the performance of duty and hard work brought rewards. I very much wanted to believe in these things, but I saw too much hyposcrisy and stupidity to really buy into the idea of America. By the time I reached college I was ready for a change, and it came, believe me.
So next month I'm going to New York, and in fact will be rather close to the site of the 1939 World's Fair on Long Island. My friend Jean and I are going to the Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young concert at Jones Beach. I'm so.o.o.o.o very excited. This will be a great chance for me to reconnect with my past and continue with the process of reintegrating my values and interests from my youth with my life today. We are all still alive, and that is a miracle to celebrate in itself.
No comments:
Post a Comment