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"APOCALYPSE CULTURE 2"
The sequel to the seminal, shocking and subversive
compilation "Apocalypse Culture" is of somewhat biblical
proportions; indeed, that most misunderstood and
indigestible of all books is repeatedly refried to as a
point of comparison by the cover blurb.
The rather
unlikely host of latter day saints contributing to this
volume includes Colin Wilson, Michael
Moynihan, Boyd Rice, Peter Sotos and Parfray himself. As
can be expected, the book is in much the same vein as
its predecessor; a study of the most extreme and
unpalatable aspects of human experience and behavior.
Terrain covered, and mapped out not in sensationalist
gloom but in unforgiving light, is primarily a lovely
land of cannibalism, pedophilia, child murder,
necrophilia, racial hatred and scatology. Transgression
is the order of this (fatal) day, even if its
contributors may be unwitting to an uncertain degree, as
the words of Darwin, the mentally retarded, and
anonymous psychopaths drift into a disconcerting
context. Taboos are (at the very least) stamped upon.
Thought crimes are committed. But I very much doubt if
the creators of, and contributors to, this work care in
the slightest who this sort of thing will shock. (And
shocked you may well be, despite how liberal, jaded, or
cynical you consider yourself.) Shock is not the
objective. Instead, "Apocalypse Culture 2" serves to
illustrate not only that this behavior exists, but also
that in certain quarters it is celebrated and let
flourish. In short, a disturbing, enlightening,
essential and inspirational read. And I use none of
these words lightly.
The rather
unlikely host of latter day saints contributing to this
volume includes Colin Wilson, Michael
Moynihan, Boyd Rice, Peter Sotos and Parfray himself. As
can be expected, the book is in much the same vein as
its predecessor; a study of the most extreme and
unpalatable aspects of human experience and behavior.
Terrain covered, and mapped out not in sensationalist
gloom but in unforgiving light, is primarily a lovely
land of cannibalism, pedophilia, child murder,
necrophilia, racial hatred and scatology. Transgression
is the order of this (fatal) day, even if its
contributors may be unwitting to an uncertain degree, as
the words of Darwin, the mentally retarded, and
anonymous psychopaths drift into a disconcerting
context. Taboos are (at the very least) stamped upon.
Thought crimes are committed. But I very much doubt if
the creators of, and contributors to, this work care in
the slightest who this sort of thing will shock. (And
shocked you may well be, despite how liberal, jaded, or
cynical you consider yourself.) Shock is not the
objective. Instead, "Apocalypse Culture 2" serves to
illustrate not only that this behavior exists, but also
that in certain quarters it is celebrated and let
flourish. In short, a disturbing, enlightening,
essential and inspirational read. And I use none of
these words lightly.
