28 mannequins wearing David Bowie’s clothes came to Berlin. (ref http://www.davidbowie-berlin.de/en/) they locked themselves in a museum exhibit. I bought tickets. I went as The Somewhat Thin Grey Duke. (ref https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/6456703744/h7F902F74/) my coconspirator went as a red pixie, from what I could tell. she got more attention.
we got there with large sunglasses on. it was packed and sweaty with baby boomers. I saw a squat woman. her 80’s flower pants swayed before the mannequin Ziggy. her audio guide played the lovesong Starman. she crooned with her lover, eyes tearfully shut. I knew The Thin Duke dicked Jagger, but still – I had underestimated his reach.
he wanted community. young David felt like a lonely alien. no one represents suburbia like a man who is sometimes a woman or a dog. we aspire to Joyce, we actually understand Batman. adolescent Bowie carried books he didn’t read, hoping others would see their titles.
consider a comparative analysis opportunity: Bowie and Warhol struggled for years in marketing. they learned early to work a job. work you do for work. you aren’t always rewarded. contrast the teens who strike it rich early – the young genius who’s given a blank check. they die before they get old.
