See how we are

Since Sarah noted the rock-chick angle, thought I’d ponder aloud: Posted late last night after coming from a grand set by the Knitters, who do a bunch of old X songs. Who’d have thought “Burning House of Love” would work as country? Was hit by a wave of sadness when they covered “The New World,” realizing that the country has either come full circle in 22 years (or simply hasn’t progressed). Thinking about that, about the related genre of spy novels – particularly Le Carré and the Cold War (what is the word on “The Constant Gardener” anyway?) – and the Adam Cohen Op-Ed has me wondering about the interaction between political climate and good art. If there is one at all… . Maybe this is better late-night, post-clubbing fodder for discussion, but this aging punk is curious about the interaction between society (say, real crime rates, which are down) and crime fiction. At what point do fear, poverty, and despair squelch creativity? At what point are they spurs? And where are we now?