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Vincent Spinetti is an archetypical
tortured artist. Throughout this sad comic
novel, the sensitive young writer falls victim
to alienation, parental neglect,poverty,
depression, alcoholism, illness, nervous
breakdowns, and various forms of unrequited
love. What Vincent is painfully unaware of is
that these torments are largely due to the
secret manipulations of New Renaissance, an
experimental entertainment organization that is
testing the age-old idea of art coming from
suffering.
Since art has died and culture is instead
influenced by music, movies, and television,
New Renaissance hopes to improve mindless
mainstream entertainment by raising writers
who emphasize quality over commerce. For a
top-secret sub-project, New Renaissance hires
reluctant ex-musician Harlan Eiffler to
manipulate its most promising prodigy, Vincent.
Wickedly anti-social and deeply disgusted by what passes for entertainment
in the 21st century, Harlan “tortures” the unwitting Vincent in hopes of
changing a sex-obsessed and violent American culture. For instance, during
Vincent’s teenage years, Harlan pulls the strings so that Vincent remains a
loser in the game of love. All the while, he poses as Vincent’s manager and
guides the boy through a prolific artistic career, simultaneously nurturing
and torturing his client.
But when Harlan’s role as manager requires him to acquaint himself with
the business side of entertainment, the torturing of a true artist becomes
an increasingly more difficult career. |
