Greil Marcus and American Prophecy

I went and saw Greil Marcus speak at Book Passage in Corte Madera last night. I first read Marcus in college - the book was Lipstick Traces and it really kind of changed my life. Since that time, I've kept up with his work, through one of his many looks at Bob Dylan (Like a Rolling Stone), his recurring column in Interview, and most recently, The Shape of Things to Come. Marcus read from a chapter in Shape - now out in paperback - that discussed Twin Peaks, or more particularly, Sheryl Lee as Laura Palmer. Of course, when Marcus takes on a subject, he is able to connect it to and reference stories from all traces of American pop culture and folklore. His discussion of Twin Peaks quickly goes into classic American folk songs and Law and Order quotes, before coming back around to the character. Later in the chapter, Marcus goes in detail about Olympia, Washington, home to the Riot Grrrl movement and what Marcus calls, "The Other Twin Peaks." Truly, a fascinating read.

Later I asked Marcus if he thought Lynch's dark exposing of the American Dream was nihlistic or if his agenda was similar to that of the punks or situationists. Marcus responded that he did not think Lynch had a political agenda with his films - simply putting ideas on the screen because they "excite" him. Later, Marcus said something that really intrigued. Simply put - criticism is an interpretation of your reaction, and not your interpretation what you think the artist was precisely going for. I like that, and I'd have to say, I agree.