ATDTDA (15): A handsome set, 419

[Paul Nightingale]

The Academy is introduced as an alternative to Candlebrow; each is a product
of "the intricacies of greed as then being practised under global
capitalism". However, whereas Gideon Candlebrow dumped lard on Britain
(406), the Academy is the beneficiary of harmonica dumping by German
manufacturers (419). Candlebrow U has borrowed the trappings of European
art/culture/learning, providing continuity with "the elder continent" (406);
whereas the Academy supports an indigenous, not to say patriotic, culture,
an "unforeseen outcome of the Law of Supply and Demand" (419, itself central
to "the whole capitalist illusion"). On 406 Candlebrow U is introduced in
the form of an illusion, or architectural con-trick: "The West Gate .
evoking a remote age ." etc, in the process undoing 'America'. The Academy,
however, promotes, and feeds off, nationalism (a concept that erects
boundaries to ward off trespassers).