The other day at the library I picked up The Great Funk by Thomas Hine
It's a book about the 70s. I'd read his earlier book, Populuxe, (about the post war period) long ago.
This one seems a bit more serious, but it still has its fun moments. There's an interesting, though very sketchy, line he draws between air conditioning and the rise of fundamentalism that I'd never considered before.
But his greatest talent is looking at interior design and what lay behind it. He goes on and on and on about the houseplant mania of the time, stressing the point that it was a reflection of the insecurity of the time. Maybe, but he seems to belabor that point.
It's an overview to be sure, and a fun read, and he does an admirable job keeping things both light and intriguing, and most of all connecting the threads (plus the photos are wonderful).
4 comments:
AC and fundamentalism, who'd have thunk it? Me. Groovy shot of that plaid panted prancer.
What's the connection between house plants and insecurity?
I think I might have actually read/browsed Populuxe.
That's about ten pages worth of the book, Jason....you'll just have to read it (browse it) yourself, I'm afraid. I can't be typing all that :)
Sounds interesting. Got to keep it away from the husband tho. He's a rabid anti-airconditioning guy and I don't want to give him another reason to hate the one thing that gets me through allergy season. Ditto on the groovin cover!
Post a Comment