Torture the Artist

Vincent Spinetti is an archetypical tortured artist. Throughout this sad comic novel, the sensitive young writer falls victim to alienation, parental neglect,poverty, depression, alcoholism, illness, nervous breakdowns, and various forms of unrequited love. What Vincent is painfully unaware of is that these torments are largely due to the secret manipulations of New Renaissance, an experimental entertainment organization that is testing the age-old idea of art coming from suffering. Since art has died and culture is instead influenced by music, movies, and television, New Renaissance hopes to improve mindless mainstream entertainment by raising writers who emphasize quality over commerce. For a top-secret sub-project, New Renaissance hires reluctant ex-musician Harlan Eiffler to manipulate its most promising prodigy, Vincent. Wickedly anti-social and deeply disgusted by what passes for entertainment in the 21st century, Harlan “tortures” the unwitting Vincent in hopes of changing a sex-obsessed and violent American culture.  For instance, during Vincent’s teenage years, Harlan pulls the strings so that Vincent remains a loser in the game of love.  All the while, he poses as Vincent’s manager and guides the boy through a prolific artistic career, simultaneously nurturing and torturing his client. But when Harlan’s role as manager requires him to acquaint himself with the business side of entertainment, the torturing of a true artist becomes an increasingly more difficult career.

• Excerpt • Purchase •