Picture This (novel)
Picture This is a 1988 novel from Joseph Heller, the satiric author of the acclaimed Catch-22.
The novel is an eclectic historical journey across three periods of history, all connected by a single painting: Rembrandt van Rijn's Aristotle Contemplating a Bust of Homer. With constant reflections between the different time levels, we jump back and forth between the time of Aristotle, Rembrandt and Heller: the Golden Age of Athens, the brief 17th century golden age of Holland, and the golden age of the USA.
Plot introduction
Like in Heller's version of King David's story, God Knows, the author changes little in the storyline of the original – he execrates narrative, and denies historical counterpoints, both explicit, some implicit. Incomprehension may have contributed to a critical redemption of this book, along with less weight for humour and a sobering conclusion.
Major themes
Heller concludes that we do not learn from history (and in fact so much of history may be nonfactual that learning may be impossible). Being a pessimist chronicler of the American Century, his main unspoken theme is of course parallels between the onetime Hellenic overlord respective the onetime ruler of the Seas, and his home country.
Picture This
Picture This may refer to:
Music
Literature
Film, TV and radio
Picture This (Gary Burton album)
Picture This is an album by vibraphonist Gary Burton released on the ECM label in 1982.
Reception
The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 3 stars stating "Burton always had the ability to blend in with nearly anyone, and the alto/vibes frontline is attractive... Well-played, if not overly memorable music".
Track listing
Personnel
References
Picture This (song)
"Picture This" is a song by the American rock band Blondie. It was released in 1978 as the first single from their third album Parallel Lines. It reached number 12 in the UK, giving Blondie their third UK Top 20 hit. It also charted in various other countries but was not issued as a single in the US.
Background
"Picture This" was written by Chris Stein, Debbie Harry and Jimmy Destri. Debbie Harry wrote the lyrics while Destri and Stein each wrote portions of the music. The B-side of the single, "Fade Away And Radiate", featured Robert Fripp on guitar and was also included on the Parallel Lines album. "Picture This" was included on the international version of the band's first 'greatest hits' compilation The Best of Blondie, released in October 1981.
Music critic Arion Berger of Rolling Stone called "Picture This" "the tenderest new wave love song put to vinyl".
Music video
A music video was produced to promote the single featuring a straight performance by the band and Debbie Harry wearing a yellow dress designed by Stephen Sprouse.
Podcasts:
