ZAMM and Robert Pirsig’s Locations in Minneapolis
February 12, 2012 peter bell
The literary genre known as philosophical fiction is also referred to as “novels of ideas.” Typically, novels of this particular vein use conventions of literature (story, characters, narrative arc) to make broader philosophical arguments. Often times, these novels are used to illustrate the author’s particular views on the trajectory of society (such as Infinite Jest […]
Diane Arbus: Life, Photos, Locations
February 8, 2012 peter bell
Few photographers have created as much controversy, or as many iconic images, as the American photographer Diane Arbus. During her life, her work challenged preconceptions of photography. Her work had many approaches, but she often focused on marginalized or peripheral roles in society (circus performers, drag queens, nudists, the developmentally disabled). After her death, the […]
Top 5 Postmodern Architecture Buildings in Minneapolis
February 2, 2012 peter bell
At a dinner awhile back, I was trying to provoke a reaction from an artist and author by asking if she considered her recent work as “postmodern.” The reaction was immediate and visceral, with several people wincing. “I hate that word,” said a friend attending art school. “It sounds so art school-y.” Like the alternative […]
Andy Warhol locations in New York City
January 24, 2012 peter bell
Although born and raised in Pittsburgh, Andy Warhol became what this outsider could best describe as the quintessential New Yorker. After establishing himself as a successful commercial artist, Warhol immersed himself into the celebrity and personality of Manhattan, feeding off the energy of the elaborate cast of characters that surrounded him. By reinterpreting the iconic […]
Kurt Cobain in Aberdeen, WA locations
January 18, 2012 peter bell
The first time I heard Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” it was on MTV. My mother had gotten cable to watch The Gulf War (thanks, CNN!) and MTV was part of the package. For any younger readers, MTV used to show music videos almost exclusively back then, before the The Real World proved wildly successful in […]