Chapter 8 Toward the Hometown of Art (8)--Convert to Art

If it is said that Karl’s servanthood in Brunata’s house was only his artistic practice stage; then, his move to the Oklahoma Playhouse was his first step toward becoming an independent artist.The whole process struck him as fresh and hopeful, as well as bewildering and ironic.As the advertisement said, whoever wants to be an artist can sign up, and whoever chooses the theater, the theater also chooses him.This strange job advertisement actually speaks to the essence of art. The gorgeous and grand scene of the recruitment office in Vallahoma gave Karl a vain and pleasant impression, but he unexpectedly reunited here with an old acquaintance who had long been forgotten by him.The descriptions of these typical scenes make us feel that Karl, who has been under the pressure of daily life and can't even breathe, is walking into the mirage deep in memory at this moment, that is, walking into art itself.What is truly experienced is never forgotten and is recreated by some kind of magic.He took the trumpet from his girlfriend from his hometown and started playing.This is a strange trumpet, crudely made, and everyone uses it to make noise; but it can be used in the hands of people to do whatever they want, and they can play whatever tunes they like.Carl smugly blows out a song that disrupts the entire ensemble of noises.Obviously everyone's ensemble was in harmony, but he was an intruder from outside. He didn't understand the beauty of their harmonious ensemble, and thought it was noise.

The recruitment department's inspection of Carl is also ironic.First, they solemnly asked Karl to present his credentials, and then they let Karl pass easily, as if they were just testing Karl's resolve.The deceit shown by Karl to achieve his goal (including the false name later) is just his sincerity from the heart. It can be seen that Karl has matured unconsciously at this stage.Carl was more composed later in his conversation with a superior gentleman; he mulled each question over in his mind, choosing the "best" rather than the most "sincere" answer.The gentleman who asked the question stared wide-eyed into his soul, asking ambiguous questions that were, in fact, essential.Carl tied these questions directly to his own hiring, thinking that answering them well or badly would determine his fate.In fact, his fate was decided as early as the moment he saw the advertisement and decided to apply: he chose the theater, and the theater chose him.In this place where no identity card was required, where angels and demons mingled and played their trumpets, his new life had begun.It can be foreseen that greater disasters and trade are waiting for him ahead, and of course there is also the current short-term reconciliation.

The book's final, non-ending epilogue is full of symbolism.They sat on the train for two days and two nights across the vast territory of the United States; Passing through the turbulent waves, the air-conditioning of the waves made them tremble all over.This is a train heading to hell, the hometown of art; the journey towards death will bring endless inspiration to artists.The fate of being an independent artist is most vividly and purely reflected in the author's two later novels——and, and this "America" ​​is the first display of the power of youth. On August 29, 1997, Yingcai Garden