The 2014 Spring Arts Preview

The Culture of Narcissism, the controversial 1979 book by the late historian Christopher Lasch, has been viewed both as grumpy reactionary screed and inspired work of prophecy. It’s actually a little bit of both, but the prophecy part still seems right. If Lasch thought the culture was narcissistic then…

But even with “selfie” deemed Word Of The Year and technological navel-gazing now an international obsession, there’s an easy way to get out of yourself — or at least make you think a bit about the rest of the world (or even about your own narcissism). That’s by going to a movie or a play or a museum or a concert — or anything previewed in this issue. Whether it’s a Georgia O’Keeffe landscape or an August Wilson play, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings or The Magic Flute, you’ve got options aplenty this spring for broadening your horizons or just having a damn good time. You can even go to a exhibition inspired by two of the last century’s most accomplished narcissists: Salvador Dalì and Andy Warhol, together again for the first time in Warhol: Art. Fame. Mortality. at the Dalì Museum.

Inspired by that show, we’re launching the InstaFame Photography and Video Contest this week, inviting you to submit Instagram photos of someone who deserves Warhol’s proverbial 15 minutes (or more) of fame. Select a subject who genuinely deserves the spotlight, even including yourself, or go all ironic on us and create a portrait that makes a comment on the nature of art, or fame, or mortality. For details, go to cltampa.com/InstaFame.

And because Valentine’s Day is only a month away, give or take a few days, we’re also reviving the Lust List — our search for those Tampa Bay citizens most worthy of pure, unadulterated lust. Nominate your spouse, your neighbor, your tax accountant, that bartender or barista who makes you go all weak in the knees, and submit your nominees to cltampa.com/lustlist. We’ll post pics on Facebook, and readers will get the chance to Like them like crazy. Meanwhile, we at CL will take on the onerous task of choosing our own candidates for the List. It all comes to a head at a party at The Castle on Feb. 13, the same day the Lust List issue is published, with awards (and terrific Valentine’s-ready prize packages) presented to the top male and female in both judges’ and readers' categories.

Andy would love it.

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