The Right-iest Day of My Life. (Plus, Links)
Yesterday, friends and I trekked over to the Crystal Cathedral (home to "The Hour of Power") and the Nixon Library and Birthplace. This amounted to the most conservative day of my life, but it was really interesting to see the business of religion in full form (we went to a service!), as well as the full story of the tainted legacy that is Richard Nixon's.
I find it absolutely fascinating that a man who is preaching to people through the cathode rays of a television set can justify spending money on architectural monuments by great architects. The first indication that Schuller had a palatable taste for architecture was Richard Neutra's Drive-In Church in 1962. The entirely original concept was that some parishioners would sit in pews inside the church walls, and some would drive their cars up to the parking lot, and Schuller would stroll and preach between the indoor podium and the outdoor balcony. [Sylvia Lavin's article "Richard Neutra and the Psychology of the American Spectator" does this much more justice than I ever could here...] He also employed Neutra to build the Tower of Hope, campanile and offices, which, in person, has a quality of regal simplicity. Then, later on, in 1980, Philip Johnson lent his expertise to build the Crystal Cathedral. And in 2004, Richard Meier's elaborate, Getty-esque Center for Possibility Thinking was unveiled. Pretty amazing. Also, as I was informed this weekend, the legacy of the televised Schullers continued with a new generation on MTV's "Laguna Beach: The Real O.C." (Season 1).
The Nixon Library and Birthplace was also really interesting. Weirdly, the grounds have a full-scale replica of the White House East Room, in addition to the main museum and the original kit-model house in which Nixon was born. While there is a great deal of bias (especially the Watergate exhibit), to be sure, but it was really interesting to see evidence of the different parts of Nixon's life -- from his and Pat Nixon's only wedding picture to his failed California gubernatorial bid; from the first presidential visit to China to the speech he would have given if Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin had found themselves stranded on the moon. And, of course, Pat's gowns are a treat too, no matter if you side red or blue.
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On a completely unrelated note (and back in my religious and political comfort zones), here are some links for a lazy Monday:
I find it absolutely fascinating that a man who is preaching to people through the cathode rays of a television set can justify spending money on architectural monuments by great architects. The first indication that Schuller had a palatable taste for architecture was Richard Neutra's Drive-In Church in 1962. The entirely original concept was that some parishioners would sit in pews inside the church walls, and some would drive their cars up to the parking lot, and Schuller would stroll and preach between the indoor podium and the outdoor balcony. [Sylvia Lavin's article "Richard Neutra and the Psychology of the American Spectator" does this much more justice than I ever could here...] He also employed Neutra to build the Tower of Hope, campanile and offices, which, in person, has a quality of regal simplicity. Then, later on, in 1980, Philip Johnson lent his expertise to build the Crystal Cathedral. And in 2004, Richard Meier's elaborate, Getty-esque Center for Possibility Thinking was unveiled. Pretty amazing. Also, as I was informed this weekend, the legacy of the televised Schullers continued with a new generation on MTV's "Laguna Beach: The Real O.C." (Season 1).
The Nixon Library and Birthplace was also really interesting. Weirdly, the grounds have a full-scale replica of the White House East Room, in addition to the main museum and the original kit-model house in which Nixon was born. While there is a great deal of bias (especially the Watergate exhibit), to be sure, but it was really interesting to see evidence of the different parts of Nixon's life -- from his and Pat Nixon's only wedding picture to his failed California gubernatorial bid; from the first presidential visit to China to the speech he would have given if Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin had found themselves stranded on the moon. And, of course, Pat's gowns are a treat too, no matter if you side red or blue.
----
On a completely unrelated note (and back in my religious and political comfort zones), here are some links for a lazy Monday:
- The Bear is a perpetual favorite.
- Things Magazine links to an interesting deal: Buy the house, and they'll throw in the Ferari for free!
- I've been thinking a lot about Victoria Morton recently.
- And, more seriously: John Carey's book on the personal experience of art, and why literature is art's most supreme form. (Thank you, Arts and Letters Daily.)
posted by Melissa at 11:44 AM
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