A so-called utopia? Despite the note of cynicism inherent in the title, Albert Meister's first-person account (originally published in 1976) is an enthusiastic telling of how the imaginary Beaubourg centre evolved underground (literally) in Paris. The artist, Luca Frei, has done a fine job in translating although it is not officially a 'translation', but rather an 'interpretation'. As Frei told me recently, it was 'intended to be different than if it would have been translated professionally. I always thought of it as a book to be shared and experienced collectively, and I tried to work the English as if it was in fact Meister himself who would read out loud from the book.' That is exactly how it reads.
Far from being a dry theoretical exploration of this Utopian ideal, Meister's account is frequently satirical without mocking the central concept. He is, after all, supposedly a founder member. I say 'supposedly' to remind you (and myself) that it a is all fiction, but like the best fiction, is wholly convincing as a creative illusion. Recounting developments without dialogue, Meister reveals the problems as well as the positives. Money is discarded and inhabitants are encouraged to act for themselves rather than look to leadership. Naturally, not all visitors are beneficial to the cause, therefore the 'parasites, male chauvinist pigs, lazy windbags, hyper-aggressive psychotics' must also be dealt with.
If the Beaubourg centre world sounds hellish to those of us who baulk at the idea of even sharing a flat with strangers, that's partly the point; to challenge notions of ownership and separation as fostered by a capitalist society driven by the idea of private possession, material accumulation and ultimately isolation. The centre is ungoverned, the anarchist ideal in one large structure. As such all the problems encountered simply mirror life Above but with one crucial difference in that unlike our world this one is not fashioned by powers with ulterior motives that are detrimental to our well-being.
All this may be far-fetched fantasy yet it can't help but cause the reader to look at her/his own life and society in general. We may be trapped in the 'real world' but don't we all sometimes dream of escaping? Some look to reinforce political beliefs by reading the 'wisdom' of others, yet as Meister says, commonplace 'revolutionary' ideas, shackled to the political system, are only playing the same game as their enemies. Until people fundamentally change themselves, all efforts to change society will be futile.
To Frei's mind, this is an 'art book' but it's quite unlike any other you'll encounter. On the subject of art, the beaubourgians want nothing to do with 'the Cultivated' and their chosen artists, 'these surrealist suckers aiming to shock the bourgeoisie'. Meister rightly pillories the art world and society's division into 'the clans of those who make and the clans of those who look'. Just as the political elite thrive on divide and rule, so the art world beneficiaries cultivate their own caste system in order to maintain control.
I highly recommend this book. It's a little pricey now but worth getting. Alternately, you could visit the Beaubourg centre where you may be lucky and find a copy, which you'll be able to take, for free.
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