Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Venice Journal: Arrivederci!




El Toro and Kingda Ka at Six Flags (photo: Paulm27)
Venice is the Six Flags of Renaissance art. The only problem is that there are no stomach churning rides. Beside the crowds modernity has eluded the below sea level city which sports a form of public transportation, the Vaporetto, which moves at a snail’s pace. It’s a tautology to say Venice is beautiful, but beauty can be elusive amidst the throngs of tourists. Imagine yourself packed into a crowded New York subway at rush hour in which the cars were decorated with Tintorettos instead of graffiti. Of course any person who has an investment in their image as a cultivated person is going to choose choose Venice over Six Flags in say Jackson, New Jersey just as they will take Bouilly over Popeyes. But it may be important to remember that it was human activities like Six Flags that were the basis of much great art. Take for instance Jacques Feyder’s Carnival in Flanders which is a painting come to life. What you're getting on a visit to Venice is a hand-me-down, many artists' representations of their idea of fun. However, are such vicarious pleasures truly enjoyable amidst a background of bored restauranteurs, lousy food and injustice collecting Americans who are ever eager to exercise their First Amendment rights by crying “fire!” in a crowded movie theater? If you want to have a good time, can Venice and just ride El Toro, the rollercoaster at Six Flags.

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