Michael Arturo's "Flatiron" is a challenging yet rewarding work that utilizes a specific architectural landmark to explore universal themes of human perception and memory. By blending historical events with personal myth and employing a distinctly postmodern style, the narrative creates a disorienting but ultimately moving portrait of how individuals construct their reality and grapple with the ghosts of the past. The influence of major literary figures in the absurdist and postmodern traditions is evident throughout, and the work's engagement with concepts like pataphysics adds another layer of intellectual depth. While at times prone to philosophical abstraction, the core narrative effectively conveys a sense of existential uncertainty and the search for meaning in a mediated world.
Timeline of “Flatiron”
* 1902: The construction of the Flatiron Building (originally the Fuller Building) begins in New York City. Alex Alessi's great-grandfather, an Italian immigrant, is involved in its construction.
* 1911: The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire occurs, killing 146 people, mostly women. Alex Alessi's great-grandmother perishes in this fire.
* Over Generations: The stories of the Flatiron Building's construction and the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire become intertwined and distorted within Alex Alessi's family history. A myth develops about immigrant workers being buried alive during the Flatiron's construction, possibly due to language barriers and misinterpretation of historical events.
* Sometime in the Past (Pre-narrative): Alex Alessi and the narrator are inseparable friends. The narrator has dreams of opening an art gallery, which Alex considers backing. Jerry Greenberg, an artist, sometimes crashes at Alex's loft. The narrator lurks at Alex's get-togethers and makes a connection with Greenberg. Alex confides in Greenberg that he doesn't want to be overt in depicting loss in his art; the past is inescapable.
* Later in the Past (Pre-narrative): A rift or drift occurs between Alex Alessi and the narrator. Things are said, and they drift apart. Alex achieves early success while the narrator struggles.
* Sometime Before the Narrated Events: Jerry Greenberg starts living in Alex Alessi's loft. He begins to have recurring nightmares about immigrant workers being buried alive beneath the Flatiron, predating his residency in the loft. These nightmares influence his art.
* The Day of the Narrated Events: The narrator, unsure how he arrived, finds himself seeking out his forgotten friend, Alex Alessi, at his loft. Alex is not there, only his name remains on the intercom. Jerry Greenberg answers the door and lets the narrator into the loft.
* Later the Same Day: The narrator spends an indefinite amount of time in Greenberg's loft, observing his chaotic space and extensive collection of paintings of the Flatiron Building. Greenberg discusses his artistic obsession with the Flatiron, questioning its reality and discussing concepts like pataphysics. He also speaks of Alex's disappearance, stating Alex could be anywhere.
* Still Later the Same Day: The narrator shares the story of Alex Alessi's great-grandfather and the intertwined myths of the Flatiron construction and the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire with Greenberg. Greenberg reacts strongly, revealing his own recurring nightmares that align with the fabricated story of buried workers. He becomes agitated and shows the narrator a painting depicting buried laborers, claiming it is a representation of his nightmare. He questions who sent the narrator.
* Later the Same Day: The narrator leaves Greenberg's loft, asking Greenberg to call him if Alex reappears.
* Shortly After Leaving Greenberg's Loft: The narrator stands outside, looking up at Greenberg's windows and then at the Flatiron Building. He walks around the Flatiron, attempting to make a full circle but loses count of his steps. Something feels "off" after circling the building.
* Immediately After Walking Around the Flatiron: Drawn back to Greenberg's building, the narrator re-enters.
* Inside the Building's Entrance: The narrator sees Alex Alessi's name on the intercom.
* Interaction with Mr. Borges, the Concierge: The narrator calls Mr. Borges, who addresses him as "Señor Alessi" and welcomes him back, assuming he has returned from a trip to Buenos Aires. The narrator, disoriented, plays along.
* The Elevator Ride: The narrator takes the elevator up to the loft.
* Entering the Loft: The narrator's keys fit the lock, and the loft is just as he left it.
* Looking Out the Window: The narrator looks out at the Flatiron Building, contemplating its ambiguous reality. He reflects on his family history, the intertwining of events, and his past relationship with Greenberg.
* Looking Down at the Street: The narrator sees a figure resembling Greenberg (wearing a smock, counting steps) at the base of the Flatiron before he disappears.
* Realization/Acceptance: The narrator remembers he is home. The text reveals that the narrator is Alex Alessi and that the events described were memories or a merging of perspectives. The entire narrative has been a recursive loop, with the narrator/Alex experiencing his own past and the perspective of someone (possibly a past version of himself or a visitor to his loft) looking for him.
How does the concept of "pataphysics" relate to the character of Jerry Greenberg and the story's themes?
* Pataphysics, defined as the science of imaginary solutions, is explicitly named and embraced by Greenberg. This concept provides a framework for understanding his obsessive art and questioning of the Flatiron's existence. Greenberg embodies the pataphysical practitioner as an inventor, experimentalist, and potentially a delusional con man, all of whom are less concerned with absolute truth than with transforming perception and exploring the architecture of fictions. His art, through its apparent futility in replicating the Flatiron, becomes a pataphysical gesture that reveals the inadequacy of sensory perception and the ambiguity of reality.
How does Flatiron resonate with contemporary cultural concerns?
The story's exploration of disinformation, historical revisionism, and the search for personal truth in a world of collective noise makes it highly relevant today. It speaks to the modern need to assert one's narrative in the face of increasingly mediated and unreal realities. By questioning the authenticity of memory, architecture, and selfhood, the story reflects a society grappling with simulacra and the difficulty of discerning what is real.
What does the ending of Flatiron suggest about the narrator's identity and perception?
The ending suggests a blurring or folding of identities, culminating in the reveal that the narrator might be Alex Alessi. The interaction with "Mr. Borges" and the narrator's recognition of details within the loft reinforce this possibility. This cyclical narrative where memory and selfhood intertwine, coupled with the narrator's final perspective on the Flatiron ("Always there. Never there."), reinforces the story's core themes of subjective reality and the ambiguous nature of identity and perception. The sighting of a figure resembling Greenberg further emphasizes the persistent nature of the story's obsessions and questions.
Support by hitting the like button or leaving a comment.
Michael Arturo writes fiction, contemporary political/social commentary, parodies, parables, satire. Michael was born and raised in New York City and has a background in theater and film. His plays have been staged in New York, London, Boston, and Los Angeles.
