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« Bubba Blows It Bigtime | Main | Soul Music » January 27, 2005Nashville Scene
One of the more amazing sights is this full-scale replica of the ancient Parthenon in Greece, recently rehabbed at a cost of millions of dollars. It houses an art museum in the basement and, on the main floor, a 42-foot-high statue of Athena, Athena Parthenos, perhaps the most expensive piece of kitsch in America. It really does look ridiculous, like a giant gilded piece from some ancient Grecian Goofy Golf franchise. The good news: Athena Putt Putt is tucked safely inside the building so you can enjoy the Parthenon and the surrounding Centennial Park without ever having to see the big statue and, involuntarily, blurting out, "that's one big woman." Incidentally, one of Nashville's nicknames is "The Athens of the South," but it isn't because of the Parthenon. It's because of the myriad of colleges and universities located in the city. Comments
Way back in August 2003 I wrote an only-slightly tongue in check post on whether the tax-paid construction of this pagan statue constituted a breach of the First Amendment. I included a photo of the statue, so curious readers can see the kitsch there. BTW, Bill, the statue, like the building, is historically accurate, so the kitsch is ancient Greek kitsch. But a giant putt-putt staue? Oh, that's a good one! Posted by: Donald Sensing at January 27, 2005 1:40 PMPlease know that general references to the sport should be to "miniature golf." "Putt Putt" suggests a reference to a particular franchisor, "Putt-Putt Golf Courses of America, Inc." It's an easy mistake to make, however, since Putt Putt is world reknowned as the leader in course layout and physics in the design and construction of their courses. There's a reason that all officially sanctioned tournaments take place only at actual Putt Putt courses! Posted by: roboto at January 27, 2005 9:57 PMPost a comment
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