A Trompe L'oeil Casablanca: Sotto in su
"It's important to understand that. It doesn't do just to go back and say, well, 'George Bush was president and that is why everything is screwed up,' because that is simply not true."
Trompe L'oeil: from the French, to deceive the eye. An art technique involving extremely realistic imagery in order to create the optical illusion that the depicted objects really exist.
Sotto in su: from the Italian, seen from below. A type of trompe l'oeil where the elements above the viewer are rendered as if viewed from true vanishing point perspective.
A Trompe L'oeil Casablanca: Sotto in su
by
Justice Putnam
The bombs and rockets are exploding from the Mid East to Western Somoa, from Timbuktu and all along the North Africa Coast. Cities are sunk and bridges are falling as The American walks across the marbled expanse of his nightclub in a trompe l'oeil Casablanca. Not taking the time to survey the room, he strides past the piano player and approaches the woman he knew would be there.
"Ilsa," The American began, "you said we'd always have Paris. Well, here's looking at you kid."
Not waiting to hear Ilsa's explanation, The American turned and approached the Old European and U.S. Congressional delegations at the other end of the room.
"You're either with me" The American taunted, " or you're against me. If you're against me, you'll get nothing. If with me, you'll get what I tell you what you'll get."
"But that's preposterous!" the delegations shouted.
"Pre... pre.... Damn you!" The American shouted, "then you'll get plenty of nothing and nothing is plenty for you!"
Suddenly, all eyes in the room cast upward at the sound of a plane flying overhead. The little man in the corner selling Articles of Demarcation grabbed his papers and bolted out the door. The U.S. Congressional delegations hid under their tables as the piano player nodded at Ilsa and played a familiar melody. The puppet government functionary sidled up to The American and they both walked out the service entrance.
The little man with the Articles of Demarcation approached The American and the puppet government functionary from around a dark corner. He handed out the papers and all three smiled at each other.
"I think," The American said to the little man and the puppet government functionary, "this is going to be a continuation of a very profitable relationship."
A fog of dust and rock arose as they strode past the ruins they created.
© 2007 by Justice Putnam
and Mechanisches Strophe-Verlagswesen












Warrior myths die hard, whether 3rd Reich or Rambo.
More pleasant to think about the fine sounds one can make with a Stratocaster---I have white 80s Japanese Fender in my living room, as good as the one I bought new in 71. Kind of miss the Travis Bean, though, even if I don't play anymore.
March 15, 2009 9:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I miss my Strat and my "Good and Plenty" pink, black and white swirled Vesta; both stolen before a gig in Orange County during the early 90's; the world has been in worse ruins ever since...
March 15, 2009 9:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Never shoulda sold that Guild Bluesbird...original P-90's and all...
March 16, 2009 2:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
it's sad...
March 16, 2009 3:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Let's just not talk about the blonde Fender Bassman with Altec 417's.
March 16, 2009 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Or the Super Reverb.
March 16, 2009 9:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
It comforts me to know that we have Justice here at TPM Cafe. That's a start. But a pretty good one! I hope you are an omen for the future, Justice.
And I wonder if cheney thinks torture is just trompe l'oeil ginned up by such as we.
You are a genius.
March 15, 2009 9:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just observe and then record what I've observed...
March 15, 2009 9:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
In creative and ingenious ways. Yes, you take the stuff of living and you turn it into art. And you do it brilliantly!
March 15, 2009 9:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
(blushes) thanks!
March 15, 2009 10:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
That sob cheney is on cnn tonight. the lying.......
Ah forget it.
March 15, 2009 9:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
didn't mean to upset you... ;-)
March 15, 2009 9:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Too bad Peter Lorre is dead. He would be perfect to play Cheney in a horror movie.
March 16, 2009 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Perfect for the part!
March 16, 2009 1:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Vincent Price as Rove. Karloff as Rumsfeld (maybe not, since Condi Rice was the Bride of Frankenstein, right?).
March 16, 2009 2:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hee Hee!
March 16, 2009 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink