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AWasteofSpace:
SomeThoughtsontheFabulousCareerofPhilipJohnson,Architect
PostedByJamesJ.O'MearaOnDecember10,2015@4:17amInNorthAmericanNewRight
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[1]5,595words

Architectureistheartofhowtowastespace.
PhilipJohnson[1]
YouknowIvealwayswantedtopretendtobean
architect.GeorgeCostanza[2]
Dontbestupid,beasmarty/ComeandjointheNazi
PartyMelBrooks,TheProducers
Damnyou,PhilipJohnson!Damnyouandyourbrilliant
and(but?)mercurialintellectdamnyouandyour
fathergiftedportfolioofAlcoastock,worthmillionsbefore
youenteredHarvarddamnyourPackardconvertiblefor
touringconvenientlythesitesofmodernarchitectureonyouryearlyEuropeanjauntsduring
whatsomeexperiencedasTheGreatDepression,andaboveall,damnyourlittleportable
typewriter!
SomesaintsmayhavebeenWildBoys,butatleastonechapIvedesignatedasaWildboyis
asaint,oratleast,hasafeastdayDecember16thintheEpiscopalcalendar:Ralph
AdamsCram.
IvewrittenaboutCrambefore[3]butdontreallyhaveanythingnewtosayabouthim.
Rather,Idliketousethisoccasiontotakealookatamodernpretendertothetitleof
AmericasgreatestRightwing,ambisexualarchitect:PhilipJohnson.
TherearetwothingseverygoodNPRlistening,NewYorkTimesreading,PBSonintheliving
roomsophisticateknowsaboutPhilipJohnson:hedesignedandlivedinaglasshouse,
andhewasaNazi,though,unlikeothertargetsoftodaysSJWs,nooneeverwantedtotalk
aboutit.
Decidingtofinallygettothebottomofthis,IobtainedausedcopyofFranzSchulzesbig,
apparentlydefinitive1994biographyPhilipJohnson:LifeandWork.[4]
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So,whatsupwithPhilipJohnson?Howdoesitstandwith(astheHeideggerianswouldsay)
PhilipJohnson?Ishe,bluntly,oneofUs?IsheanotheroneofthegreatintellectsoftheXXth
centurythatwereonOurSide?Andisheanotherarchitect,tostandbeside,orfollowon,
fromRalphAdamsCram?
Sadly,no.
TheresareasonmostpeopleonlyknowoftheGlassHouse:theresnothingelseas
interesting,atleasttothelayman.
Fromthestart,witharatheroverlongPartOne,Schulzelabormightily,liketheusual
biographersthesedays,tofindsomeaspectofheredityorthehomeenvironmenttoaccount
forPhilliprather...striking...personality.Nothishomosexuality,which,againafterthe
fashionofbiographerstoday,isasimplefactofnature,tobequestionedonlybythebigoted.
[5]Rather,apersonalitydescribedherevariouslyasmercurial,subjecttomoodswings,or
outrightmanicdepressive.[6]This,likehisgoodlooksandhighintelligence,seemspretty
solidlygenetic.
SoSchulzespendsalotoftimetryingtogetustofeelsorryforthepoorlittlerichboy.Oh,
thetraumaofmovingfromoneexclusiveschooltoanotherasthefamilymovedfromone
mansiontoanother,perhapsseekingbettergolfopportunities.[7]Howsinister,theconcern
forfreshairandhealthyfood![8]Imremindedofyoungladyofmyacquaintancewho
complainstothisdayaboutthetraumasofherlifewithheradoptedparents...inthe
Hamptons.[9]
Infact,ifonewerelookingforparentalmalfeasance,Iwouldlocateitinwhatseemsarather
generousandwellthoughtoutgesture.Philipsfatherbelievedingivinghischildrenmoney
whiletheywerestillyoungenoughtomakeuseofitso,beforegoingofftoHarvard,after
givinghissisterssomesolidrealestateholdings,[10]hehandedPhilipsomespeculative
stockinanew,flybynightcompanythatwouldsoonbecomeAlcoa,makingPhilipricherthan
hisfather,amillionairewhen,asSchulzeratheroddlypointsout,itreallymeantsomething:
rich,ratherthancomfortable.[11]
This,Ithink,isthekeydevelopment,althoughSchulzedoesntmakemuchfussaboutit.
Philip,alreadyarather...uniqueindividual,nowhasallheneedstoindulgeeverywhimofa
verywhimsicalpersonality.[12]HecanlivewhereverhewantsatHarvard(nodormsfor
Philip!),travelwhereverhewants(buyingluxurysedansifneededtheyrecalledtouring
carsforareason,youknow),majorinanydamnthinghepleasesclassics,thensome
philosophy,howaboutalittlearthistory?
Inshort,PhilipbecomesthatguyIyoutoo?justlovetohate.Theguyyoujustwantto
punchintheface,hard.HestheUltimateWhiteGuy,livingthelifeallusWhiteguysarenow
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beingpunishedforsupposedlysharingaswellbornonthirdbaseandthinkingwehita
triple.ThinkGeorgeW.Bush,withbrains,andnopostJesusmoralrehab.[13]
ButImclearlyaminority,asitwere,comparedtothepeopleinthisbook,whereitcounts.
For,mostpeople,therightpeople,theusefulpeople,seemtofindPhilipsodamned
charminganotherwininthegeneticlottery.
Herememberedbeingathisbestwith[Alfred]Barr,whichmeantbehavingtowardshim
withhismothersintellectualconcentration,hisfatherssociabilityandextroversion,and
thenervousvitalitythatwashisown.[47]
ItsclearthatJohnsoninpersonapossessedthepowertoingratiate,toamuse,topleasehe
hadawaywithhimonemightsay[14]hehadcharm,likeSebastianFlytecreamyEnglish
charm.AsAnthonyBlancheknew,[15]eventheEnglishcouldfallforit:
Neithertheagingteacher[Whitehead,thestarofHarvardsdepartment]...norhiswife
couldhelplikinghisstudentsrapidwit,elegance,andcultivatedgoodmanners...
Yes,AlfredNorthWhiteheadhimself!Iconfessaconsiderableaboutofpersonal/professional
piqueatreadingaboutPhilipwaltzingaroundHarvard,[16]gettinghisgentlemansCsand
charmingeveryone,fromRaphaelDemosinClassicstotheaforementionedWhitehead.It
makesonethinktheressomethingtothataffirmativeactionbusinessafterallsurelythere
musthavebeenonememberoftheTalentedTenthinHarlemwhowouldhavebenefitedmore
fromaHarvardeducation?[17]
ButthebuckstopswithWhiteheadthepassagejustnowcontinues:buttheseassetsby
themselveswereinadequatetoalifeinphilosophy.
Philip,likemanyabrightundergraduate,fellinlovewithPlato,anddreamtofbecominga
metaphysician.[18]ButWhiteheadsBwasnotagentlemansBbutasignaloffailureI
washopelessinmetaphysicsandheknewit.
Whattodo?ForsurelyPhilipmusthavesomearenatoshinein.Quitecoincidentally(atleast,
thatshowSchulzesnonchalanttransitionmakesitseem)Philip,likemanyotherbright
undergraduates,discoversNietzsche,andNietzsche,convenientlyenough,teachesusthat
guyslikeWhiteheadarejustabunchofoldmeanies!AsSchulzequotesZarathustra:
EvilIcallit,andmisanthropicallthisteachingoftheOneandthePlenumandthe
UnmovedandtheSatedandthePermanent.
InNietzschePhilipnowhasthejustification,hethinks,forexactlythelifehewantsneeds?
tolive:devotedtoBeauty,notTruth,Art,notPhilosophy,andaboveall,theimposingof
hiswhimsthroughclevertalkandcharm,ratherthantedioushardthinking.
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Now,whetherthisisacorrect,orevenpossible,interpretationofNietzscheIleavetoothers
althoughformypart,itwouldseemthatNietzschesactuallifeofpennilesswanderingis
aboutasopposedtoPhillipsasonecouldbe.[19]AsforWhitehead,Iknowevenless,but
evenIwouldthinkthatthewholepointofWhiteheadsprocessmetaphysicswastocreatea
versionofPlatothatwouldmeetNietzschesobjections,[20]somaybePhilipdeservedthat
failingB.[21]
Theimportantpointhere,though,andthemostamazingthingIgotoutofreadingthisbook,
isthatPhilipisstilltalkingaboutArt,notArchitecture,whichhehasntquitediscoveredyet.
Andthisisthething:allthatmodernarchitectureyouhate,especiallythatpostmodern
stuff,isthewayitisbecausePhilipJohnsonthoughtitwasbeautiful.
Andthatisthebig,theshockingrevelationofthisbook:allthatawfulModernarchitecture
looksthatwaybecausePhilipactually,blesshissoul,thoughtitwasarthethoughtitwas
beautiful.[22]
Beforeanyarchitecturalconcernswhich,aswellsee,Philipmostlydismissed,seeing
architectureasessentiallypartofthehistoryofartthepoorsickbastardthoughtitwas
beautiful,andthathewasdoingusafavornoblesseoblige!togiveittous...good
andhard.
Anyway,afternomorethanafewbumps(includingacoupleofnervousbreakdowns),Philip
finallygraduatessummacumlaude!afternolessthansevenyears,[23]andmovesinto
hisnewjobatMOMA.
Wait,howdthathappen?ThesamewayeverythinghappensinPhilipsWorld:privilegeand
charm.HereadsanarticleonmodernarchitecturebyanolderHarvardcontemporary,Henry
RussellHitchcock,Jr.[24]Then,hemeetsathissisterscommencementatWellesleyone
AlfredBarr,ofthenewMuseumofModernArt.Despiteonecourseinarthistorydropped
andhavingreadonearticleonarchitecture,Phillip,ofcourse,turnsonthecharm(the
encounterasquotedabove)andheypresto,hesagreestobecomethe(unpaid)headofthe
architecturedepartmentatMOMA.
Andthatsit,really.Asthebookgoeson,itshardtocareaboutanything,sinceitssimplya
chronicleofhowbabyPhilipgothiswayandimposedhisrandomtastesandideason
colleaguesandtheworld.ToparaphrasetheStoics,ifnotthenecessarilytheSophists,
nothingisgoodorbad,butPhillipthinksitso.
Withinamatterofweeks,Barr,Hitchcock,andJohnsonformedabondofcompanionship
basedonaconcordanceoftaste[25]thateventuallyexertedaprofoundeffectonthe
courseofAmericanartandarchitecture.(p.60)

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AtMOMA,Philipessentiallycreatesmodernarchitecturebymountingashowofhisfavorite
architectsfromaroundtheworld,withanaccompanyingbookthatcanonizesitbyannouncing
fourprinciplesofwhathecallsTheInternationalStyle.[26]Schulzegivesusaclear
expositionoftheseprinciples,whichattempttoshoehornarchitectureintothesupposed
mainstreamofarthistory,buthegingerlynotesthattheyarentevenclosetobeingan
accuratedescriptionoftheworksincludedintheshow.[27]Nevertheless,
Fromabout1945to1960,thearchitecturalworldwasdominatedbyvaluesandideas
that[were]traceablemostdirectlytothebookandexpositionthatappearedinNewYork
in1932.(p.85)
Itsinterestingtonote,then,thatatthetimethereactiontobothwasunexceptional.Even
Wright,shoehornedintotheexhibittopreventthepublicfromfeelingcorrectlythata
gaggleofEuropeanswasbeingshoveddownthepublicsthroat,eventuallyexplodedwiththis
Roarkian/Randianrant:theInternationalistswere,inSchulzesparaphrase,
Apostlesofarchitecturalsterilitymarchinginlockstep,latterdayeclecticspoorly
disguisedasrevolutionarysaviorsoftheart,enemiesoffreedomanddemocracywho
werenowbeingsoldtoAmericabyaselfadvertisingamateur[Johnson]andahigh
poweredsalesman{Hitchcock](p.83)
Then,atthepeakofhisyouthfulcareer,havingachievedmasteryofarchitecture(without,
remember,evenaB.Arch.)hedecidedtobecomeaNazi.
Howdidthishappen?ThatswhatIreallywantedtoknow,andalthoughSchulzedevotesPart
Two,nearlyaquarterofthebooktowhathecallsJohnsonsIngloriousDetour,[28]youcan
tellbythetitleitselfthatSchulzeisntthemanforthejob.
Schulze,forallhisresearchandskillisofcourseaGoodthinkerforexamplethesortof
personwhostillthinksthattheSovietUnion[wasaplace]whereConstructivismwasstill
moreadreamthanareality,butneverthelessdrivenbyawilltoredesignthefuture(p.48).
Ahyes,thewilltoredesignthefuture.Weknowhowthatworkedout.Butitwouldbe
impossibleforGoodthinkerSchulzetouse,oreventoleratehearing,similarlanguageused
aboutNSGermany.There,thewilltoredesignthefutureisBadinfact,itsnotevenawillat
all,justakindofinfantiletempertantrum(liketheonestoddlerPhilipwasfamousfor?)or
cynicalpoliticalcongame:
TheNazishadmadecapitalofGermanysresentmentovertheVersaillesTreatyby
heapingtheblameforthenationscurrentgriefonitsmistreatmentbyitsoldenemies
FranceandEnglandandnolessontheJews.Hitlersmessageofsustainedexecrationwas
effectivelylinkedwithacallfornationalresurgence,whichhepromisedthrougharadical,
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ifsimplisticallyexpressedprogramofeconomicreform.
Yes,norealproblems,onlygrudgesnorrealenemies,onlyoldstereotypes.Noprogramof
reform,onlyexecration,simplisticallyexpressed.WhetheritsucceededinpullingGermany
outoftheDepressionandtransformingitintoanenviedeconomicpowerhouse,whileAmerica
languishedinthenodoubtverysophisticatedprognosesofDr.NewDeal,isneitherasked
noranswered.
Worstofall,thenastyNazisaretheenemiesofallthatwonderfulWeimarculture:
TheculturalmomentumofBerlinhadnotyetslowedasmuchasitwouldseveralyears
laterwiththeNaziaccession....(p.65)
Itwasthebestoftimes.TheGermancapitalwasatthepeakofaculturalfeverthathad
madeitthemostgalvanicmetropolisinEuropeduringthelate1920s.Thegreat
traditionalGermanperformanceartsofmusicanddramawereinfullflower,sharingthe
BelinerLuftwithanirreverentavantgardethatwasactiveinallthecreativefields,most
aggressivelyinawideopencabaretscenewherethecollapseofmiddleclassmoralitywas
celebratednightly.(p.54)
Asanexampleofthatculturalmomentum,Philipwritestohismother:
Recently,inBerlin,itseems,thelawagainsthomosexualrelationshasbeenrepealed,
aproposofwhichtheconferencier[29]saidthatatEasterthelawagainstrelationswith
animalswillalsoberepealedandthatthenormalonlywillbeprohibited.Theaudience
thoughtitveryfunny,asIdidmyself,burthenofcourse,Iwouldnotadmitit.(pp.53
54)
Asafurthertasteofthatculturalmomentum,onemightconsiderthisvignetteofPhilipin
Berlin,1931:
Heshowedme,theartdealerJulienLevylaterwrote,aBerlinnightlifesuchasfew
couldhaveimagined.ThegrotesquedecadenceIwastodiscoveroverandoveragainin
Berlinthosefewsowweekscouldonlybecompared,onmightsuppose,toParisduring
thelastdaysofLouisXVI.
Asasidenote,itsofteninterestingwhenitsnotinfuriatingorboringlypredictablethat
theLeft,orevenploddingacademicGoodthinkerslikeSchulze,neverseeanycontradiction
betweentheiridealizingbothStalinisttyrannyandCabaretstyledivinedecadence.Yet
SchulzeandothersfeeltheneedexplainhowaproponentofModernism,andapracticing
homosexual,couldfindanythingtopraiseinNationalSocialism.[30]
ForGoodthinkerslikeSchulze,theresonlyroomintheModernistpantheonforonegroup
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imposingitselfonthefuture,sonomatterhowmanymillionsarekilleditsjustafewtragic
mistakesortheactionsofsomebadapples,whileanyopposition,tosaynothingof
alternativeprojects,isTotallyEvil.
AlthoughSchulzesees,correctly,thattheNeueBauenorNewArchitecture,thatemergedin
Germanyduringthesecondhalfofthe1920swasalegitimateoutgrowthof[two]interlocking
developmentsnewtechnologiesabletosolveproblemsarisingfromsocialupheavalshe
isthesortofthoroughlyculturallydistortedthinkerwhocannotimaginesuchdevelopments
continuing,orevenaccelerating,underNationalSocialism,whichsimplyrepresentsasudden,
inexplicablehaltandaninterregnumofDarkAgeprimitivismorevenadescentintoChaos.
Bycontrast,RogerGriffin,inModernismandFascism,understands
[T]heeasewithwhichanelectiveaffinitycouldgrowupbetweenthelatesteconomicor
demographictheoriesandtheNewItalyinthemindofthosebentontransformingItaly
intoamodernnation,[resulting]inanovertlymodernistsynthesisbetweenfascismand
technocracy...farfrom...thepopularimageofFascismasaprimitivephenomenon
ofmasshysteriaandmasshypnosis.[31]
Ineverycase[suchasacultlikeobsessionwithrayon,whichwascalledacrystalline
modernitythathademergedoutofthedarkshadowsofdecadence]wasthatFascismwas
notjustmodernizing,butpioneeringahealthy,rootedmodernity...[Fascists]saw
themselvesnotpittedagainstmodernity,butonlyagainstthedecadentaspectsofmodernity
allegedlymanifestedmostclearlyinthemoraldegeneracyoftheUS,whichitotherwise
longedtoemulate.[32]
NeitherGriffininhisbooknorClarkeinhisreviewwouldfindPhilipsmoveatallpuzzling.As
ClarkeexplicatesGriffin:
[Modernism]isfurtherdividedbyGriffinintowhatmightbecalledintrovertand
extrovertreactions:theintrovertreactionisgenerallyindividualisticandinGriffins
expressionanepiphanicmodernismthepathoftheartistwhiletheextrovert,
collectivereactionisdefinedasprogrammaticmodernism.Thelatterseekstochange
theworldandresolvethepermanentcrisisofmodernity(allthatissolidmeltsintoair
Marx)byacollectiveactofreconnectionforwards(MoellervandenBruck).Itisnot
difficulttomaketheshortstepfromprogrammaticmodernismtofascismthe
transcendentpoliticsproposedbyvandenBruckatthebeginningoftheTwentieth
CenturyarenotsodifferentfromGuillaumeFayesArchaicFuturismatitsend.Both
are,inthephraseofGuyDebord,technicallyequippedarchaism.[33]
Notdifficulttomovefrommodernistarttofascistpolitics,indeedespeciallyforsomeone
whoselifelongcharacteristicwasrapidcyclingfromoneextremetotheother.Indeed,
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arguably,ifSchulzecouldjustclearhismindsufficiently,Philiphadalreadybeenimposinghis
aestheticviewsonthesupinemassesofthegoodoldUSofA:
SomeofthemostperceptivesensibilitiesofthedayconsortedregularlywithPhilipand
hewiththem,andtheirmutualgravitationwasbothcauseandeffectofahistoric
reorderingoftheprioritiesofthenationalculturalscene.Theywerethepeoplewhohad
beenschooledearlyintheirlivesinthenineteenthcenturyRuskinianworldviewthat
identifiedculturewithgentilityandennoblinggoodtastethuswithvaluespresumedto
belackingintheUnitedStatesbutwhogrewimpatientwiththatdecoroustradition
whentheydiscoveredtherambunctiousmodernEuropeanarts.Theydidmorethangive
itup.TheycametolookupontheirownnativeAmericanotasawastelandtoescapebut
asafertilefieldawaitingthenourishmenttheycouldprovide....Inanycase,they
remainedelitistintheirobjectives.Theymeanttodocumentandinstitutionalizeculture,
nottoadvancedemocracy.(p.93)
ButifitsontheLeft,andtheysucceed,sononedarecallitFascism.[34]
Unabletodealwiththeissueatthislevelofsophistication,Schulzefallsbackon
psychobabble:arecurrenceofsomeformofmanicdepressivecrisis.Perhapshiswealth
allowedhimtheluxuryofaninterpretation(p.90).Andmostpseudoprofoundly,
WhatevertheirreduciblecoreofPhilipspersonality,itlaybeneathmultiplelayersof
motivationsmanifestinanalmostunnaturalfacilityattheinterminglingofactivitiesand
interests,notallofthemdiscernablyconsonantwithoneanother.
EvenRogerKimball,noapologistforFascism,askswhetherthelasttworeasonsmean
anythinginEnglish.[35]
ButperhapsitsamistaketolookforaprofoundexplanationforanythingPhilipJohnsondid.
PerhapsSchulzeisontosomethinghereJohnsonbecameaNazioutofpersonalpique.
SwanningaroundGermanyinhisbig,expensivecarandwithhisbig,custommadecamera
(notexpensivesinceitwasbuildonsiteforhimbyimpoverishedGermancraftsmen),Johnson
meets,forthefirsttimesinceWhiteheadatHarvard,someonewhostandsuptohim.
DecidingtowriteaboutthearchitectureofLuwigPersius,hemeetswiththeleadingPersius
scholarwhotellshim,Youneedadoctorateforsuchastudy,notafancycamera.
Fatefully,Schulzegoeson,PhilipthenmeetsanAmericanartcritic(justashechancedto
meetAlfredBarrwhencastingaroundforsomethingtodopostgraduation)whotalksupthis
Hitlerchap.JustasPhilipaestheticizedarchitecture,soheimmediatelyaestheticizesHitlers
struggletoliftademoralizednationfromthedepthstotheheightswithhisownpersonal
experiencewithmodernarchitecture:
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Thattoo,wasamission,nomeretask.Powerandartweresomehowinextricablylinked.
[H]ecouldattribute[thesuccessofthe1932show]totheeffortsofhimself,Barr,and
Hitchcock,singularfellows,abovetheherd.[36][Ontheotherhand,]criticalreactiontoit
hecouldidentifywiththeinstitutionalizedgrievances[ofGermany].(p.90)
Johnson,inshort,reactedtohisfirstprofessionalsetback(anotheroneofthosedamned
scholarsdemandingqualificationsratherthancharm)intypicallyinfantilefashion,takinghis
ballandgoinghometoplayanewgameastheNewYorkpapersannounced:Two[Johnson
andpalAlanBlackburn]QuitModernArtMuseumforSurRealistPoliticalAdventure.
Theresmore:
TWOFORSAKEARTTOFOUNDAPARTYMuseumModernistsPreparetoGotoLouisiana
atOncetoStudyHueyLongsWays.GRAYSHIRTTHEIRSYMBOLYoungHarvard
GraduatesThinkPoliticsNeedsMoreEmotionandLessIntellectualism.[37]
Theresultswereasyoumightexpectno,actually,funnier,frombrieflymeetingwitha
pajamacladHueyLong,[38]torunning(unsuccessfully)forlocalofficebackhomeinOhioas
thetribuneofthedairyfamers,towarcorrespondentinEuropeforFr.CoughlinsSocial
Justice.Again,Schulzeisnotreallythemanforthejob,treatingtheAmericanRight,
populism,CatholicsocialdemocracyandthelargestAmericanpeacemovementinhistory
(thesocalledIsolationists)likestinkingfishhehastoclearout.[39]Nevertheless,Counter
Currentsreaderswillfindmuchinformationandamusementhere,especiallythoseinterested
intheverycontemporaryquestionofhowtoorganizeaRightistoppositioninAmerica.[40]
Becausealthoughtheswingfromarttofascismmightmakepsychologicalsense,itdoesnot
followthattalentinoneareawouldimplytalentintheother.Hitler,forexample,ifweaccept
thelegendarypictureofhimasafailedartist,mightbesaidtohavemakethediscovery
thathistalentlayintheextrovertedrealmJohnson,then,presentstheoppositecaseeven
ifweweretogranthimartistictalent(questionable)hispoliticaladventureswereadisaster
forallconcerned.
Nothingabouthislettersismorestrikingthatthecontrastbetweenhisknowledgeand
thesophisticationofhismentalprocessesontheonehandandontheother,aninfantile
selfindulgenceairedalmostproudly.(p.50)
ForSchulzetheinfantileselfindulgenceisanexplanationforhisNazipolitics.Forus,it
explainswhyhewasincapableoftrulyseriouscommitmentto,roleinorevenunderstanding
ofpolitics.
AsWhitallPerrysaidaboutAlanWatts,inaratherdifferentcontext,Aspeculative
intelligencedrewhimhither[Traditionalism/Fascism]andaspeculativeunintelligencedrew
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himthither[Krishnamurti/Modernarchitecture].
Intheend,everyoneagreestosaynomoreabouttheladsembarrassingmisadventures[41]
andPhilipreturnstohisnaturalhabitat.Stillstung,perhaps,byWrightsselfadvertising
amateur,hedecidestobecomeaprofessionalarchitect,and,despitehavingtakenseven
yearstogetadegreeinClassics,hesacceptedintotheHarvardSchoolofDesign.[42]After
graduating,hebeginshiscareerasanarchitect,although,intypicalfashion,hecantbe
botheredtoactuallytakethelicensingexams,sohehaslicensedarchitectssignthework.Ah,
charm.
Hissubsequentcareerdoesnotshowgrowthanddevelopmentsomuchasitdoestheusual
moodswingsandfrivolity,movingfromtheinitialPhilipdefinedmodernismto,inthelast
years,anenthusiasticabandonmenttothefrivolouscampofpostmodernismwhichmaywell
behislegacy.
JohnsonsonerealachievementinarchitecturewastogetMiesthecommissionforthe
SeagramBuilding(Philiponlyworkedontherestaurant,TheFourSeasons,whichhasrecently
closed).Again,itsmorbidlyinterestingthatneitherhadalicensetopracticeatthetime,
althoughMiesdidundergotheindignityofprovidingproofofgraduationfromaGerman
technischeHochschule,whichNewYorkStatelicensingboardruledmorethansufficientfor
practiceintheEmpireState.
Tothenonarchitectpublic,theonebuildingofJohnsonsthatcontinuestointerest(inthe
watchingonPBSorreadingintheTimesmeansImsmartway)isthepostwar(1949)
GlassHouse,a1,800squarefoottransparentrectangle.Inevitably,heborrowedtheidea
fromMies,[43]whowasalreadyworkingonhisownversion,althoughadmittedlyPhilipdid
actuallybuilditfirst.Andalsoinevitably,eventhisminimalistobjectisconstructedmostlyof
charmingPR.NotonlywastheideafromMies,neitherdidPhilip(entirely)livewithinthe
confinesofhishousetoutcourtaswerecentlyreadintheTimes:
WHENPHILIPJOHNSONSGlassHouseinNewCanaan,Conn.,wasfeaturedinLife
magazinesoonafteritscompletionin1949,architectsanddesignersdownedmartinisat
theOysterBar,ponderingthefutureoftheInternationalStyle.Butthatprobablywasnt
whatmostpeoplewerethinkingaboutastheylookedatthepictures.Theylikelyleaned
backintheirBarcaloungersandwondered:Howcouldheactuallyliveinaclearbox,
withoutwalls,withoutprivacy,withoutanystuff?
TheanswerwasthatdespiteourindelibleimpressionofJohnson...heneverreallydidlive
intheGlassHouse.Atleastnotintheselfcontainedsenseinwhichtherestofusoccupyour
homes.
Instead,theGlassHousewasmerelythefocalpointofwhateventuallygrewtobeaveritable
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architecturalthemeparkon49meticulouslytendedacres,comprising14structures,inwhich
JohnsonandDavidWhitney,thecollectorandcuratorwhomethimin1960andbecamehis
lifepartner,andwhodiedjustmonthsafterJohnson,enjoyedtheirimpossiblyglamorous
weekendexistence.[44]
SeewhatImeanabouttheNPRstyle?ItsjustlikeMadMenmartinisattheOysterBar!
butintellectual!AstheTimesdevelopsitsheadycocktailofretrothrills(martinisand
Barcaloungers)andprogressivepolitics(lifepartners),wefindthat,interalia,Philipactually
sleptinthebunkerlikeBrickHouse.
Now,allthistalkaboutcompoundsandbunkersisinteresting,becauseSchulzereveals
anotherinterestingfact,thattheinspirationforoneofthekeyfeaturesoftheGlassHouse
itself,theturret,(abrickcylinderholdingthechimneyandbathroom,)didnotcomefrom
Mies(whowouldhavedismisseditasapainterlytouchwhateverthatis)butwasinspired
byPhilipsingloriousaccount,forSocialJustice,ofvisitingasaguestoftheWehrwachta
burnedoutPolishvillage:
Itremindedhim,remarkably,ofaburntwoodenvillageIsawoncewherenothingwas
leftbutfoundationsandchimneysofbrick.[197]
Or,asheputitina1939letterthatmadeitswaytohiseventualFBIfile:
TheGermangreenuniformsmadetheplacelookgayandhappy.Therewerenotmany
Jewstobeseen.WesawWarsawburnandModlinbeingbombed.Itwasastirring
spectacle.(p.139)
Withthatinmind,thesecondbuildingadded,theaforementionedbunker,doesindeed
resemblenothingsomuchasoneoftheoutbuildingsofaconcentrationcamp,perhaps,
even,oneofthosegaschambersthatmusthavebeenverymuchinthenewsduringthe
yearsofconceivingandconstructing.And,astheTimesreveals,allofiteventually
comprisingathemeparkor,laterandperhapsmoreobviously,aGlassHousecompound?
[45]
TheTimessaysthatthecollectionofbuildingsformedJohnsonsideaoftheperfect
deconstructedhome.Isuggestitsmorelikeareconstructedprisoncamp.Wassleepingina
brickbunkersomekindofpenanceforhisNSdabbling?Orwasit,morelikely,hissupreme
joke,theunrepentantexNaziaesthetehidinginplainsight,enjoy[inghis]impossibly
glamorousweekendexistenceinanAuschwitzthemepark?
DidPhilipJohnson,whilenotexactlybravelystickingtohispoliticalguns,atleasttacitlyhave
thelastlaughonthePCartmavens?Doesthejokeinvolvelivinginglasshouses?Or,less
dramatically,didPhilipstepoverthepast?[46]
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Perhaps,butIthinkitsmorelikelyPhilip(ifheevenwasthinkingalongtheselines)wasjust
indulginginanotheroneofhisinfantile,subNietzscheanwhims.
Speakingofhidinginplainsight,onceagaintheNietzscheinspiredhomicidalhomosof
Rope[47]cometomind,whokillanoldschoolfriend(thedeadpast?),hidehisbodyinan
oldItaliantrunk,andthenholdacocktailpartyaroundit.AstheiroldteacherMr.Cadel
upbraidsthem,demandingaPlatonicethicalaccounting:
Bywhatrightdoyoudaresaythattheresasuperiorfewtowhichyoubelong?Bywhat
rightdidyoudaredecidethatthatboyintherewasinferiorandthereforecouldbekilled?
DidyouthinkyouwereGod,Brandon?Isthatwhatyouthoughtwhenyouchokedthelife
outofhim?Isthatwhatyouthoughtwhenyouservedfoodfromhisgrave?[48]
Whichbringsusbacktoourbeginningagain,PhiliptheNietzscheanClown,andwhatareal
NietzscheanlikeCadelwouldsayaboutit:
[Y]ouvegivenmywordsameaningthatIneverdreamedof!Andyouvetriedtotwist
themintoacold,logicalexcuseforyourugly[architecture]!Well,theyneverwerethat,
Brandon,andyoucantmakethemthat.Theremusthavebeensomethingdeepinside
youfromtheverystartthatletyoudothisthing,buttheresalwaysbeensomething
deepinsidemethatwouldneverletmedoit,andwouldneverletmebeapartytoit.
WhatwouldJohnsonsayinresponse?TalkinginLondoninthelate60s:
Istudiedphilosophyasanundergraduate,insteadofarchitecture.PerhapsthatwhyI
havenonenow.[Isupposehemeansphilosophy,notarchitecture].Idonotbelievethere
isaconsistentrationaleorreasonwhyonedoesthings.
Commentingonthis,Kimballsays
AnyonewhohaslookedintoJohnsonscareercannothelpbeingstruckbytheuncanny
fusionofwitandcynicismthatheexhibits.Heexudescharm,butitisacharmthat
conceals,barely,adeepseatedbrutality.[49]
Johnsonspostwarfatefamewithoutresponsibilityforhispastaswellashisjejune
philosophizing,makeforastriking,andinformative,contrastwithFrancisParkerYockey,
anotherscionoftheMidwesthautebourgeoisie,whoactuallygotthelawdegreePhiliponly
flirtedwith,andwhoalsoworkedonFr.Coughlinsmagazine,SocialJustice.
OnewishesSchulzehadmadetheconnection,butYockeywastooobscureafigureforhimto
botherwithatleast,hedoesntappearintheindex.YockeysbiographerKevenCoogan
doesntreturnthesnub,spendingacouplepagesonPhilip,basedonSchulzesbook.[50]

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ButCooganisalsoabletospotthedifferencebetweenthem:UnlikeJohnson,Yockeycouldnt
affordtowalkawayfrom[stepover?Walkbetweentheraindrops?]thegame.[51]AsSchulze
toldus,themillionaireJohnsoncouldaffordtheluxuryofaninterpretationofFascism.
CooganthenaddsthisfromYockey:
Whatwouldbeaworldwithoutpolitics?Nowherewouldtherebeprotectionorobedience,
therewouldbenoaristocracy,nodemocracy,noempire,nofatherland,nopatriotism,no
frontiers,nocustoms,norulers,nopoliticalassemblies,nosuperiors,nosubordinates.
Forthisworldtocomeaboutortocontinuetoexist,therewouldhavetobeatotal
absenceofmenwithlustforadventureanddomination.Nowilltopower,nobarbarian
instincts,nocriminals,nosuperiorityfeelings,noMessianicideas,nounpeaceablemen,
noprogramsofaction,noproselyting,noambition,noeconomicsabovethepersonal
level,noforeigners,norace,noideas.[52]
Yockeycouldnotrestwithamerelyaestheticizedexistence.Hewasoneofthepostwarmen
thatErnstJngercalledaVabanquespieler,whichCooganglosses[53]asanadventurer
willingtostakeitallonarollofthedice.ThepostwarfateofthisCoughliniteintheKaliYuga
couldonlybethejailcellandthecyanidepill(suicideornot)theBigHouseandtheBig
Sleep,nottheGlassHouse.[54]
Well,then,whathavewelearned?
PhillipJohnsonwasarich,clever,charming,asshat.
Modernarchitectureisallbosh.[55]
Theydeserveeachother.
IwontlistAlittleNietzscheisdangeroussincewealreadyknewthat.Themanwhocalled
himselfdynamiteisvaluableasameansofdemolishingChristianandbourgeois
complacencybutdangerousforthosetooweaktotranscendtheresultingnihilism,asBaron
EvolaemphasizesinhisRidetheTiger.[56]
Philipsabandonmentoftheclassicsandphilosophyforartandarchitecture[57]makesan
interestingcontrastwith,say,BaronEvolascareertrajectory.OnemightthinkthiswasPhilip
movingfromtheabstracttotheconcrete,[58]fromairyfairytheorytoengagingwiththe
realworldbutEvolatooktheoppositepath,movingfromDadapoetryandFuturistpainting
toanintensivestudyofGermanIdealistphilosophy,developinghisowntheoryofthe
AbsoluteIndividualwhichhethensoughttolocateinpoliticalhistoryontheanalogyofthe
primordialLawmakersattherootofthevariousworldTraditions,asfoundintheworksof
RenGunon.Onthisbasishetriedtorectifythemassmovementsthatwereattempting
topreservetheEuropeantraditionsinthefirsthalfofthetwentiethcentury,exertingfar
moreinfluencethatJohnsonorevenYockey,thoughsmallenoughandultimatelyjustas
futile.[59]
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So,whythendoesnooneharpontheNazipastofPhilipJohnson,astheydowith,say,
HeideggerorPhilipsfellowpostmodernist,PauldeMan?Well,preciselybecauseheisPhilip
Johnson,notHeidegger.TheRightdoesntwanthim,or,asIvesuggested,needhim,andthe
culturalLeftknowsthat,preciselybecauseheswhatheis,hemaybemoreorlessusefulasa
culturedistorterbuttheresnoreasontotakeanythingheeversaidordidseriously.
Thus,anyresemblancebetweenPhilipandthesaintedoratleastfetedRalphAdams
Cramisonlysuperficial.Botharchitects,bothfamousintheirlifetimes(possibletheonly
architectstoappearonthecoverofTimemagazine),bothambisexual(thoughPhilip,as
befitsthetimes,moreopenlyandexclusivelyhomosexual),both,even,designersofmassive
cathedrals(CramofNewYorksCathedralofSt.JohntheDivine,thelargestGothicstructure
onEarthandstillunfinishedPhiliptheCrystalCathedralofChristianNewThought
televangelistRobertSchuler),therethecomparisonends.Cramwasamanofprinciples,no
matterhowunfashionablypreNewDealtheymayhavebeen,[60]whilePhilip,asweveseen,
disdainedanythingsovulgarasfollowingoutathoughttoitsconclusion,[61]tosaynothing
ofabidingbythatconclusionwhensomethingmoreattractivecameintoview.
Notes
[1]NewYorkTimes,Dec.27,1964.
[2]Seinfeld,TheMarineBiologist(1994).ForacompendiumofGeorgesarchitectfantasies,
seehere.
[3]SeeRalphAdamsCram:WildBoyofAmericanArchitecture,here[2]andreprintedinmy
collectionTheEldritchEvola&Others(SanFrancisco:CounterCurrents,2014).
[4]FranzSchulze,PhilipJohnson:LifeandWork(NewYork:Knopf,1994).
[5]Itendtoagree,actually,butitstheinconsistencythatirksme,likethepoliticalLiberals
refusaltoconsideranythingelseasgenetic.
[6]Diagnosedbyatherapistofthe20sascyclothymicdisorder.
[7]Yes,hisfatherbuysahouseinSouthCarolinaspecificallybecausehelikedthelinksthere.
[8]InBridesheadRevisited,CharlesRyder,diningwithSebastianssisterforthefirsttime,
triestomakeconversationalfodderoutofhiswidowedfatherseccentricities,butJuliaFlyte
willhavenoneofit:Heseemsaperfectpoppetsheinterrupts,andleavesthematthe
table.
[9]Anothergeneticcontribution,perhaps,waslongevityPhilipsparentswereintheir90s
whentheydied,likehimhisepitaphforthemwasIdidntgiveadamnwhatmyfather
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wanted.Theywereexpendable.Hewasntanyuseintheworld.
[10]Youseethatbuilding?Iboughtthatbuildingtenyearsago.Myfirstrealestatedeal.
Soldittwoyearslater,madean$800,000profit.Itwasbetterthansex.AtthetimeI
thoughtthatwasallthemoneyintheworld.Nowitsadayspay.GordonGekko,Wall
Street(1987).
[11]ImremindedofwhenSteveForbes,runningforPresident,releasedhisfinancial
statementsanditwassneeredthathereallywasntrichatallhewaslivingoninterest,not
theinterestoninterest.Therichestonepercentofthiscountryownshalfourcountrys
wealth,fivetrilliondollars.Onethirdofthatcomesfromhardwork,twothirdscomesfrom
inheritance,interestoninterestaccumulatingtowidowsandidiotsonsandwhatIdo,stock
andrealestatespeculation.Itsbullshit....Imtalkingaboutliquid.Richenoughtohave
yourownjet.Richenoughnottowastetime.Fifty,ahundredmilliondollars,buddy.Aplayer.
Ornothing.GordonGekko,WallStreet.
[12]Schulzereferstoacombinationofintellectualsophisticationandinfantileself
indulgence(p.50).
[13]Philipwasgodlessbutwillingtopretendifthepricewasright.Atthededicationofthe
CrystalCathedralhedesignedfortelevangelistRobertSchuller,Philipgotupandessentially
thankedJesus.Later,Philipbrieflyburiedhisheadinhishandinmockshame,thengrinned
andreplied.Wasntthatawful?(pp.34142).
[14]DixonhadoftenwonderedhowWelchhadcontrivedtomarrymoneyitcouldhardly
havebeenduetoanypersonalmerit,realorsupposed....Perhapstheoldfellowhadhad
whenyoungerwhathenowsodemonstrablylacked:awaywithhim.KingsleyAmis,Lucky
Jim(1953NewYork:NYRBPress,2012),p.65.
[15]OverandoveragainthewordisusedtodescribeSebastianandhis...mannerof
speaking.InjusthisfirstconversationwithCharles,AnthonysaysthatSebastianhascharm
[],suchcharm,suggeststhatinachurchconfessionalhewasjustbeingcharmingthrough
thegrille,reiteratesthathehassuchcharmandthat[hes]socharming,soamusing,
claimsthatthosewhoarecharmingdontneedbrains,callshimalittlebundleofcharm,
concludesthatinfactalltheFlytesarecharming,ofcourse,andfinishesbysayingthere
wasreallyverylittleleftforpoorSebastiantodoexceptbesweetandcharming.Hesaysthe
onlyreasonSebastianstillvisitsisfatherisbecausehessocharming,andadvisesthat
CharlesnotblameSebastianforbeinginsipid,simple,andcharming.OK.Wethink
wevemadeourpoint.SchmoopNotesonBridesheadRevisited,here[3]videocliphere
[4].

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[16]ForalookattheHarvardphilosophicalmilieuatanearlierdate,seemyreviewofOwen
WistersPhilosophy4:AStoryofHarvard,hereandreprintedinTheEldritchEvola&
Others(SanFrancisco:CounterCurrents,2014).AsIdiscussed[5]inDachauBlues:
ApplyingHistorytoScience&SciencetoHistory,mygoalinlifehasbeentoattendthe
LondonSchoolofEconomics,likePierreTrudeauorMickJagger.
[17]Afterall,itsnotasifPhilipneededajobhebrieflyflirtswithteachingClassicsat
Oberlinandlawschool,butclearlyasamusementseventually,hellworkfortheMuseumof
ModernArtforfree,evenpayingforhisownsecretary.
[18]Myhobby?Metaphysics.Whatismetaphysics?Well,theresalong,complicatedanswer
tothat....[CrowT.Robotinterrupts:]Whichhellbehappytogiveus.MST3k,Episode
612,TheDeadTalkBack.
[19]Evenifweignorehisworks...weabsolutelycannotdenythegreatnessofhisprivate
practice.AnthonyLudovicisPrefacetotheThirdEditionofhiscollectionFriedrichNietzsche
onWagnerTheCaseOfWagner,NietzscheContraWagner,SelectedAphorisms(Spastic
CatPress,2012).ImaynotethatthatwhilemydissentonWagner(reprintedinTheEldritch
Evola,op.cit.)wasbasedonCoomaraswamysPlatonici.e..,Traditionalviewofartas
communicatingamessage,andthussubjecttothevirileverdictofTruthorFalsehood,the
vituperativereactionsofButjustlisten,itsbeautifulinstancethefeminineideaofartas
merepassivefeeling(hence,aesthetics),thus,intermsoftheNietzsche/Wagnerconflict,
placingNietzscheonthesideofPlatoandWagneritesonthesideofPhilip.See,
anachronistically,LudovicisPreface(totheFirstEdition),loc.cit.
[20]SeeDavidRayGriffin,WhiteheadsRadicallyDifferentPostmodernPhilosophy:An
ArgumentforItsContemporaryRelevance(SUNYSeriesinPhilosophy),2012).Griffinisalso,
perhapsbest,knownforhisphilosophicallysophisticateddiscussionofthe9/11event,
suggestingthatconcernfortheOneneednotobviateconcernfortheMany.
[21]SchulzethinksWhiteheadunderstoodhimnobetterthanhisfather(pp.3940).
[22]SomemaydaretodisagreewithPhilip:Ah,modernarchitecture.Efficientandbeauty
free.TomServo,MST3kEpisode918,DevilDoll.
[23]SevenyearsofcollegedownthedrainBluto,AnimalHouse.
[24]AhyphenatedfirstnameandaJr.justthesortofbloketoappealtoPhilip.
[25]WhatIvecalledabadMnnerbund,superficiallyapproximatingtheAryanwarriorband
butactuallyrunforselfishaggrandizement,likeCapt.AhabsshiporAlCaponesgang.Ilike
tothinkofthemasthesmug,elitistkillersPhilip(yes!)andBrandon,withtheirNietzschean
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prepschoolteacherRupert,inHitchcocksRopeformoreonRopeandthegoodandbad
MnnerbundeinBrianDePalmasTheUntouchablesseemyEssentialFilmsandOthers,
here.
[26]WalterGropiusoftheBauhaussupplied(unknowingly)thename,Hitchcocktheideas,
Barrthemuseum,andIsupposePhilipsuppliedthecharm.
[27]Mostegregiously,asSchulzeobserves,Miesmasterpiece,theBarcelonaPavilion,wasa
freestandingspace,diametricallyopposedtothesupposedprincipleofthinkingofbuildingas
enclosedvolumes.
[28]MakingJohnsonanIngloriusBastourd,Iguess.
[29]Willkomen,bienvenue,welcome!
[30]SincebothendsoftheparadoxsuittheneedsofJudaicsubversion,itsgoodtastenot
tonotethedoublethink.Inthesameway,onecouldhavejustguessedthattheVillage
Synagogue(anotheroddity,butthisisGreenwichVillageitselfaredundancy[GreenVillage
Village]andnotetoLovecraftians:onthesameprinciple,itsDunnichnotDunwhich])would
havenotjustahomosexualrabbi,notjustfemalerabbi,butanalloutlesbianrabbi.Andyet
howmanypageshavebeendevotedtoexplainingsuchphenomenaasgayNazisorgay
Skinheads?
[31]ModernismandFascism:TheSenseofaBeginningunderMussoliniandHitler[6]
(Basingstoke:PalgraveMacmillan,2007),p243seeAlisdairClarkesreview,Fascismandthe
MeaningofLife,here[7].
[32]Ibid,p.244.Hereandbefore,allitalicsareGriffins.
[33]Clarke,op.cit.,emphasismine.Interestingly,neithermentionsPhilipJohnson.
[34]Treasondothneverprosper.Why?Becauseifitprospers,nonedarecallittreason.Jim
Garrison,JFK(OliverStone).
[35]PhilipJohnson:thearchitectasaesthete,TheNewCriterion,November1994.
[36]IimaginethediscussionsbackhomewereratherlikethoseinRope:Brandon:Thefew
arethosemenofsuchintellectualandculturalsuperioritythattheyreabovethetraditional
moralconcepts.Goodandevil,rightandwrongwereinventedfortheordinaryaverageman,
theinferiorman,becauseheneedsthem.
Kently:SoyouagreewithNietzscheandhistheoryofthesuperman.
Brandon:Yes,Ido.
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Kently:So[does]Hitler.
Brandon:Hitler[is]aparanoidsavage.Hissupermen,allfascistsupermen,[are]
brainlessmurderers.Idhangany[ofthem].Butthen,yousee,Idhangthemfirstfor
beingstupid.Idhangallincompetentsandfools.
[37]JosephAlsop(noless!),NewYorkHeraldTribune,December18,1934seeexcerptwith
averyLeopold&LoebphotoofJohnson&Blackburnhere[8].
[38]SeeSchulzesamusingchapterZarathustraandtheKingfishonPJsquixoticjourneyto
BatonRouge,asortofIgnatiusReillyinreverse,drivingaPackardratherthanridinga
GreyhoundScenicrusier.
[39]ThegrubbierAmericanrightwingflotsamofthe1930sashesaysonp.189.
[40]SeeGregJohnsonsforthcomingcollection,Truth,JusticeandaNiceWhiteCountry(San
Francisco:CounterCurrents,2015),especiallythelastsection,VanguardStrategiesand
especiallyrelevanttoJohnsonistheessayTheSmartestGuyintheRoom.
[41]AbbyRockefellerdismissedquestionsaboutPhilipspastwithanairyEveryyoungman
shouldbeallowedonebigmistake(p.143).Honisoiquimalypense,youpeasants.AsJim
GarrisonsaystoClayShawwealthyelitistandsecrethomofascistPeoplelikeyoujust
walkbetweentheraindrops.(JFK).CharlesRydersavuncularcousinJasperadmitstohaving
gotteninvolvedwithanobjectionablegroupofChristianswhoranamissiontohoppickersin
thelongvac.,whileCharleshimselfinsiststothereaderthatthoughitstoyswerecigars
andsilkshirts,anditsnaughtinesshighinthecatalogofgravesins,hisfumblingadventures
(asDr.LecterrecallstoClariceStarling)withSebastianpreservedanurseysweetness.
[42]Mostintriguingly,despiteconstantlypromotingMiesvanderRoheasthegreatestliving
architect,PhilipshunsstudyingwithhimatIIT(justas,earlier,hehadlaudedMies
BarcelonaPavilionbutsomehowavoidedactuallyseeingitinhisEuropeantravels).IsChicago
toodeclassee?Or,asSchulzesuggests,isheshyingawayfromMiesrigorous,OldSchool
trainingmethods,includinghorrors!actualdrawing,whichPhilipishopelessat.Indeed,
readingSchulzesJohnsonbooknotonlylowersonesopinionofJohnsonandhiswork,but
raisesonesopinionofMies,aboutwhomSchulzehaswrittenanotherbigbookearlier,now
availableinasecondedition(MiesvanderRohe:ACriticalBiography,NewandRevised
EditionUniversityofChicagoPress,2012).Mies,forallhisModernism,sawhimselfas
emergingfromthecraftsystemhisfamilyhistoricallystonemasons,emphasizedtechnical
skill,notflashyartisticeffectsandevenhadattemptedtoworkwiththeNational
Socialists,designingliketheearlyHowardRoarksomeservicestationsfortheAutobahn.
SeeFredericSpotts,HitlerandthePowerofAesthetics(2002Woodstock,NY:OverlookPress,
2004),pp.34041and392onMies,addingthatdoctrinaldisputesamongarchitectsdidnot
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interestHitlerandthatWhenitcametohisautobahns,HitlerwasaModernist.
[43]Schulzesaysitharksbackalmosttothepointofplagiarismtoa1934unbuiltproject,
butinsiststhatDerivativeitmayhavebeen,andonemoresignofaconstitutionallyeclective
temperament,buttheGlassHouseinfinalformisagooddealmorethantheSonof
[Mies[Farnsworth[House][p.193].Howmuchmorewewillsee.Wright,again,hasthe
mostdevastatingcomment:IsitPhilip?Andisitarchitecture?(p.224).
[44]PhilipJohnsonsNotGlassHousesbyAlexandraLangeFebruary13,2015,here[9].
[45]TheonlyAmericanswholiveincompoundsaregangsters,Kennedys,andnowPhilip
Johnson.
[46]AkeyexpressionofJonathanBowdens.AsGregJohnsonexplicatesit:Whenan
exponentofwhiterevivalisasked,WellwhatsyourviewoftheShoahthen?Bowden
recommendssimplysaying:Wevesteppedoverthat[10].Meaningthatwehaveovercome
it,thatwearemovingforward,thatthefuturecalls,andweareapeoplewhowishtohavea
futureagain,andwerecognizethattheholocaustisbeingusedtoabortthatfuture.Tothe
retort,Whatdoyoumeanyouvesteppedoverthat?Areyouminimizingitsimportanceto
humanity?Bowdencounselsthereply,Weareminimizingitsimportancetoourformof
humanity!SeeDealingwiththeHolocaust,here.[11]
[47]AccordingtotheTimes,thecozy18thcenturytimberframehousethecoupleusedasa
TVroomwascalledGraingerFarleyGraingerplaysPhilipinRope.WhilePhilipplays
piano,ourboyisclearlyBrandon,whosharesPJsstutterandhouseinConnecticut(though
notaglassone).
[48]Viewithere[12]ordownloadwaveform:DidyouthinkyouwereGodBrandon.mp3[13]
[49]Kimball,op.cit.
[50]DreameroftheDay:FrancisParkerYockeyandthePostwarFascistInternational
(Brooklyn:Autonomedia,1999),pp.14849.
[51]WhenJerryandGeorgehijackanairportlimoandGeorgewindsupimpersonatingthe
leaderoftheAryanresistance,heiscalledupontocommentonhisbook,TheGreatGame.
Seinfeld,Season3,Episode18:TheLimo[14].
[52]Chapter27,InternationaleSeeFrancisParkerYockey,Imperium:ThePhilosophyof
HistoryandPolitics.(EditedbyAlexKurtagiForewordbyKerryBoltonAfterwordbyJulius
Evola)Abergele,England:ThePalingenesisProject,2013p.263.

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[53]AlthoughhemisspellsthewordseeMichaelOMeara,TheJitterbugs&the
Vabanquespieler:OnYockeysAmerica,here[15].
[54]Infiction,therecanbeatleastjustice.InRope,Cadelleulogizestheirvictim
imprisonedanddead,likeYockeyasactuallysuperiortoPhilipandBrandon:hecouldlive
andloveasyoutwonevercouldjustasthepoliticallyactivelifeofYockeyissuperiorto
thesophisticalaestheticismofJohnson.Thenhesummonsthepolice,sothattheyneverwill
liveorloveagain,asthestatewillensurethatyouregoingtodie,bothofyou.Isuspect
thataudiencestodaywillcondemnCadellasanevil,heteronormativeenthusiastforcapital
punishment,andwillregardPhilipandBrandonasinnocentgayvictimsofsocialoppression
(intheirmilliondollarUpperEastSidepenthouse).
[55]Again,aswithcharm,BridesheadRevisitedtellsusallweneedtoknow:Charles,said
Cordelia,ModernArtisallbosh,isntit?Greatbosh.Oh,Imsoglad.Ihadanargument
withoneofournunsandshesaidweshouldnttryandcriticizewhatwedidntunderstand.
NowIshalltellherIhavehaditstraightfromarealartist,andsnubstoher.Videohere[16].
[56]SeeRidetheTiger:ASurvivalManualforAristocratsoftheSoul(Rochester,Vt.:Inner
Traditions,2003),especiallyPartOne:IntheWorldWhereGodisDead.
[57]Schulzefollowsthatphrasewiththisoffhandremark:Thereislittledoubtthatthe
pluralityofhomosexualsamong[theMOMAcrowd]notonlyencouragedbutreinforcedthe
expressionoftheiruncommongravitationandreceptivitytothesensuousarts.(93)Imnot
sureIunderstandthisenoughtoevendoubtit.Isarchitectureasensuousart,asopposed
tosay,music?Ifanything,Ishouldthinktheopposite.Ifthecontrastiswithpoetryor
classics,isthereanyreasontofindthesemorehetero,intodaysterms,thansaypainting?
Whilethereisaculturalstereotypeoftheartsasbeingqueer(forreasonsIexploreinthe
titleessayofmycollectionTheHomoandtheNegro(SanFrancisco:CounterCurrents,
2012),actualsexologicalresearchshowstheissuetobemorefinegrained:withinmusic,for
example,violinistsaremorelikelytobehomosexualthanpianists,whichmakesitPJs
keyboardtalentaproblemforSchulzesnodoubtstandards.SeeC.A.Tripp,The
HomosexualMatrix(NewYork:McGrawHill,1975),p.260.
[58]ThoughHegelwouldbegtodifferseehis1808essayWerDenktAbstract?(Who
ThinksAbstractly?inW.Kaufmann,ed.Hegel:TextsandCommentaryGardenCity,NY:
AnchorBooks,1966,pp.11318.).Longbefore,Plotinushadtriedtocommunicatetohis
listenersthatcontemplationwasnotjustrealbutmorerealthanmeremakingordoing,
butthereisnoevidencethatPJevergotpastPlatotoPlotinus,andevenso,itisunlikelyhe
wouldhavegraspedtheideawithouttheguidanceofmyownmentor,Dr.JohnN.Decksee
hisNature,Contemplation,andtheOne:AStudyinthePhilosophyofPlotinus(Toronto:
1967)reprinted1991(Burkett,NY:LarsonPublications),especiallythechaptersIsNature
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RealforPlotinusandMakingandEfficientCausality.WhenwereadtherethatNousand
nature,ascontemplators,producethesensibleworldwithoutlearning,withoutseeking,
withoutresolve,withouthands,toolsorinstruments(p.94)wemayberemindedofvarious
supposedlyEasternnotionssuchasweiwuweiandotherwaysofactingwithoutacting
whicharecharacteristicwaysofbeing,ortryingtobecome,theUniversalManatthecenterof
themanifestworldseeEvola,EastandWest(SanFrancisco:CounterCurrents,2015).
[59]SeethevariouspublicationsofEvolafromthisperiod,nowconvenientlycollectedby
ArktoswithinformativeintroductionsbyE.ChristianKopfandhelpfulnotesbyJohn
MorganasFascismViewedfromtheRight(2013,reviewedbyF.RogerDevlinhere[17]),
NotesontheThirdReich(2013,reviewedbyDevlinhere[18]),and,mostrecently,A
TraditionalistLooksatFascism(London:Arktos,2015).
[60]Seehiseugenic/elitistmanifesto,WhyWeDoNotBehaveLikeHumanBeings,(hint:
becausemostofusarent),reprintedinRobertM.Crumden,ed.,TheSuperfluousMen:
ConservativeCriticsofAmericanCulture,19001945(Wilmington,Del.:ISIBooks,1999).
[61]Iwasstingingunder[HarvardclassicsstarRaphaelDemos]reproachthatIwasalazy
thinkerandnevercriticizemythoughts,soIgotbusyandthoughtforfiveminutes.Asa
consequence,Ihaveathoroughknowledgeofthepsychologicalfoundationsofthestateand
gotanAinthequizthismorning(p.38).Admittedly,alettertohismother,butonestill
canthelpbutthinkagainoftheimpudenttrivialityofSebastianFlyte:toldbyAnthony
BlanchethatCharleshasthemakingsofagreatartist,hereplies(accordingtoBlanche)Yes,
Aloysius[histeddybear]paintstoo,buthesrathermoremodern.

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[1]Image:http://www.countercurrents.com/wp
content/uploads/2015/12/PhilipJohnson.jpg
[2]here:http://www.countercurrents.com/2012/09/ralphadamscramwildboy
ofamericanarchitecture/
[3]here:http://www.shmoop.com/bridesheadrevisited/anthonyblanche.html
[4]here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQBUkhxKaVQ
[5]discussed:http://www.countercurrents.com/2015/03/dachaublues/
[6]ModernismandFascism:TheSenseofaBeginningunderMussoliniandHitler:
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ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=140398784X&linkCode=as2
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[7]here:http://www.countercurrents.com/2013/03/fascismandthemeaningof
life/
[8]here:http://uncommonplacebook.blogspot.com/2008/03/scenesfromlife17
architecture24art.html
[9]here:http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/13/philipjohnsondavid
whitneyglasshouse/?_r=0
[10]Wevesteppedoverthat:http://www.counter
currents.com/2012/05/revisionism/
[11]here.:http://www.countercurrents.com/2014/04/dealingwiththe
holocaust/
[12]here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYkZd_UwWUI
[13]DidyouthinkyouwereGodBrandon.mp3:http://movie
sounds.org/download#L3F1b3Rlcy9yb3BlNDgvRGlkLXlvdS10aGluay15b3Utd2VyZS
1Hb2QtQnJhbmRvbi5tcDM=
[14]TheLimo:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Limo_%28Seinfeld%29
[15]here:http://www.countercurrents.com/2013/08/thejitterbugsandthe
vabanquespieleronyockeysamerica/
[16]here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p_56bQthAw
[17]here:http://www.countercurrents.com/2013/04/fascismasantimodernism
juliusevolafascismviewedfromtheright/
[18]here:http://www.countercurrents.com/2013/05/juliusevolasnotesonthe
thirdreich/
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