Fantastic Metropolis

In the meantime, the Cremaster.net web site is an excellent spectacle and does a great job of giving you a flavor of what the whole thing is about. I highly recommend visiting every part of that site. Also, the Guggenheim web site has some nice information and pictures. If that’s not enough, the aforementioned books and CDs should provide plenty of enjoyment—at a price.

Be careful, though, for like Steve and I you might become obsessed. I’ve already purchased the hardcover edition of The Cremaster Cycle; the new book for Cremaster 3; a booklet dedicated to The Order (only available from the Guggenheim store); several postcards; an exhibition poster (which I can’t wait to get framed and on my wall); a limited edition gatefold vinyl picture disc record from Cremaster 2, featuring the Dave Lombardo drum solo and a swarm of bees, and signed by Barney (I actually bought two—one to keep and one for investment purposes); and just today I bought a mint condition copy of the 1999 book from Cremaster 2, which cost me $200, but which I have no doubt will be worth much more before long, as everything thus far released in the last eight years or so has skyrocketed in value (in fact I have already seen the book on sale for $500). My bother Steve has also purchase many of these same items, as well as a beautiful collection of patches, one for each of the five Cremaster logos.

Are we crazy? You bet.

“This has as much insight and intelligence as a 10 year old’s notebook doodles. The symbols were basic and direct and the artist expects you to see insight in nothing. The actual exhibit at the Guggenheim is worse, proving there really is no central depth of understanding, just another baby boomer mentality running amuck. Maybe if the Guggenheim stopped trying to build fancy buildings and centered on ground breaking art, we wouldn’t have to accept such meaningless work as meaningful. Then again, work like this just proves the Guggenheim is a sad institution worth dying. We should congratulate Mr. Barney for helping them along.”

—An anonymous reviewer on Amazon.com, reviewing the book Cremaster 3

Daniel Read is a software designer and author living in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. His primary hobbies include reading, concert-going, and book collecting. Daniel’s writing efforts usually take the form of essays on the subject of software development (published at www.DeveloperDotStar.com), but he also enjoys writing about the subjects of music, art, literature, and popular culture. Daniel can be reached by email.