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Art Farm: A Dark Comedy
“Are we enlightened yet?”
Art Richardson knows he can be a famous author. All he needs is a little inspiration.
Learning of a secluded creative retreat, Art trades comfortable conformity and the distractions of modern society for a vast and mysterious farmland. Here he and other aspiring (and rather eccentric) artists will attempt to live together in a utopia of cows, campfires and absurdly delicious coffee.
But things may not be what they seem, and soon their artistic journey turns into a surreal nightmare that only gets stranger as the pages turn.
The thing is, Art still might just find the inspiration he’s been looking for...
Art Farm is a dark comedy from Marc Dickerson about desperate dreamers, ritualistic slaughter, and energy poems. But mostly it’s about how the point is not the point.
Art Richardson knows he can be a famous author. All he needs is a little inspiration.
Learning of a secluded creative retreat, Art trades comfortable conformity and the distractions of modern society for a vast and mysterious farmland. Here he and other aspiring (and rather eccentric) artists will attempt to live together in a utopia of cows, campfires and absurdly delicious coffee.
But things may not be what they seem, and soon their artistic journey turns into a surreal nightmare that only gets stranger as the pages turn.
The thing is, Art still might just find the inspiration he’s been looking for...
Art Farm is a dark comedy from Marc Dickerson about desperate dreamers, ritualistic slaughter, and energy poems. But mostly it’s about how the point is not the point.
187 pages, Paperback
Published March 24, 2021
About the author
Marc Dickerson
8 books4 followersMarc Dickerson is a writer and filmmaker from Philadelphia, PA. He has written short stories, graphic novels, screenplays, and novels. His work has appeared online and in publications such as Culture Cult Magazine and Burial Day, as well as Thimble Literature Magazine where he was nominated for a Pushcart Prize for prose. He lives in Bucks County, PA with his wife and daughter.
Dickerson writes fiction for younger audiences under the name Marc Nicholas (his middle name).
Dickerson writes fiction for younger audiences under the name Marc Nicholas (his middle name).
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 31, 2021
Sometimes I think of the literary landscape as a sort of 'art farm' where creations are formulaically manufactured en masse, racing against a never-ending quota to fill shelves, which after a period of years, become landfills. We build civilization on top of these landfills, until archeologists dig the fragments back up and invest them with far more significance than they ever had.
Most books drown in a sea of other books. The reader is adrift in a tiny lifeboat, and the clock is ticking. How then, does any artist expect to create anything that will last or even be seen by isolated readers, post-flood, gnawing on the torn covers and pulp miasma that sustains the infinite abyss of the human imagination?
In this self-aware critique of the plight of the modern writer and artist, we are treated to a facetious, first-person account of one character's struggle with the dilemma of self-expression, which is a sort of self-definition, and a paradox, since we can only compare ourselves to other humans, and in doing so, appear a pale imitation of more prominent examples.
Through humorous details, seamless interior monologue ,and a consistent pace, the author quickly establishes the main thrust of the novel, occasionally veering into surreal asides reminiscent of Haruki Murakami's seedy reminiscences. With a nostalgic appreciation for the eccentrics and weirdos omnipresent in the 'art scene' subculture, a catalogue of modern woes presents itself to our narrator. It is garnished with plenty of pop culture and literary references, peppered with dreamlike events, and propelled by an indelible sense of dread - dread of unseen forces, fate, the hopelessness of the future of mankind, our own mortality, etc. The main character goes with the flow, through predictable stages: drugs, overindulgence, and envy, pondering crackpot postmodern techniques, energy poems, and various aids to the flow of creative juices. Pneumonic exercises, free association, and satirical panic-rants also aid in depicting a strong cultural awareness and the bitterly unrealistic aspirations of any self-respecting artist of today. The narrator seems a little old to be engaging in this behavior (but then again, 30 is the new 15 I suppose). Injected with intriguing B-movie style and non-pc forthrightness, the book will pleasantly surprise you or offend you depending on your level of artistic jadedness. The characters let their hair down, air their grievances, and don't give a hoot about others' feelings, societal mores, and what sensitive people deem appropriate.
Amid the rampant worship of writers and idolatry of artistic icons, uninhibited expression can shed light on our numbed media-fixated society. Here we have the desire for recognition in a consumerist landscape and the Icarusian death of the artist against the unforgiving void of the Philistinian population of the planet. The perils of cubicle habitation and the thrust of corporate America - how crushing it is to individualistic thought and worthwhile accomplishment. Will art become obsolete one day?
This book expresses the longing for the ideal conditions and mental state in which art of lasting value can be fostered, even if we can never seem to pin down the exact definition of what constitutes true art.
Most books drown in a sea of other books. The reader is adrift in a tiny lifeboat, and the clock is ticking. How then, does any artist expect to create anything that will last or even be seen by isolated readers, post-flood, gnawing on the torn covers and pulp miasma that sustains the infinite abyss of the human imagination?
In this self-aware critique of the plight of the modern writer and artist, we are treated to a facetious, first-person account of one character's struggle with the dilemma of self-expression, which is a sort of self-definition, and a paradox, since we can only compare ourselves to other humans, and in doing so, appear a pale imitation of more prominent examples.
Through humorous details, seamless interior monologue ,and a consistent pace, the author quickly establishes the main thrust of the novel, occasionally veering into surreal asides reminiscent of Haruki Murakami's seedy reminiscences. With a nostalgic appreciation for the eccentrics and weirdos omnipresent in the 'art scene' subculture, a catalogue of modern woes presents itself to our narrator. It is garnished with plenty of pop culture and literary references, peppered with dreamlike events, and propelled by an indelible sense of dread - dread of unseen forces, fate, the hopelessness of the future of mankind, our own mortality, etc. The main character goes with the flow, through predictable stages: drugs, overindulgence, and envy, pondering crackpot postmodern techniques, energy poems, and various aids to the flow of creative juices. Pneumonic exercises, free association, and satirical panic-rants also aid in depicting a strong cultural awareness and the bitterly unrealistic aspirations of any self-respecting artist of today. The narrator seems a little old to be engaging in this behavior (but then again, 30 is the new 15 I suppose). Injected with intriguing B-movie style and non-pc forthrightness, the book will pleasantly surprise you or offend you depending on your level of artistic jadedness. The characters let their hair down, air their grievances, and don't give a hoot about others' feelings, societal mores, and what sensitive people deem appropriate.
Amid the rampant worship of writers and idolatry of artistic icons, uninhibited expression can shed light on our numbed media-fixated society. Here we have the desire for recognition in a consumerist landscape and the Icarusian death of the artist against the unforgiving void of the Philistinian population of the planet. The perils of cubicle habitation and the thrust of corporate America - how crushing it is to individualistic thought and worthwhile accomplishment. Will art become obsolete one day?
This book expresses the longing for the ideal conditions and mental state in which art of lasting value can be fostered, even if we can never seem to pin down the exact definition of what constitutes true art.
July 6, 2021
Honestly wasn't sure what to expect besides a dark comedy taking place at an artist retreat, but have to say I was pleasantly surprised.
Loved the unique and eccentric cast of characters. To me they were presented as comical or satirical caricatures while also somehow seeming real. I actually cared about what happened to them (even though most of them are pretty terrible in humorous ways).
Enjoyed the tone of voice and getting into the head of the narrator. Everything kept building throughout in an engaging way, and I even actually found myself laughing out-loud at times. It's the kind of story that keeps changing as it goes, and to me it only got more and more interesting, which is always a good thing.
I'm a big fan of writers like Kurt Vonnegut, Chuck Palahniuk, and Sam Lipsyte, so maybe my sensibilities were right on for this kind of book, but I really enjoyed the ride. It's certainly dark in parts, edging toward thriller or even horror, but as the narrator says, that's how the story goes. To me it all worked as a mix of humor, suspense and contemporary or literary fiction. And even with all the humor there were plenty of moments of revelation and seriousness, and the ending in particular is gut-wrenching and cathartic. Again, unexpected but makes for an interesting and thought-provoking read.
For a new author I was particularly impressed and will certainly be looking out for more from him. Really curious to see what he does next.
Basically, if you have any interest at all, pick this one up and stick with it. I think, like me, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Loved the unique and eccentric cast of characters. To me they were presented as comical or satirical caricatures while also somehow seeming real. I actually cared about what happened to them (even though most of them are pretty terrible in humorous ways).
Enjoyed the tone of voice and getting into the head of the narrator. Everything kept building throughout in an engaging way, and I even actually found myself laughing out-loud at times. It's the kind of story that keeps changing as it goes, and to me it only got more and more interesting, which is always a good thing.
I'm a big fan of writers like Kurt Vonnegut, Chuck Palahniuk, and Sam Lipsyte, so maybe my sensibilities were right on for this kind of book, but I really enjoyed the ride. It's certainly dark in parts, edging toward thriller or even horror, but as the narrator says, that's how the story goes. To me it all worked as a mix of humor, suspense and contemporary or literary fiction. And even with all the humor there were plenty of moments of revelation and seriousness, and the ending in particular is gut-wrenching and cathartic. Again, unexpected but makes for an interesting and thought-provoking read.
For a new author I was particularly impressed and will certainly be looking out for more from him. Really curious to see what he does next.
Basically, if you have any interest at all, pick this one up and stick with it. I think, like me, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
September 4, 2021
A very smart and funny book, I really enjoyed this one. Don’t take the metaphor too seriously; in fact, I would say forget about the bizarre story altogether and just enjoy Dickerson’s clever writing and laugh out loud, dry wit. This is more a book about the author than the characters (if there is any differentiation), and I suspect there is a lot of Marc’s self in all of the ensemble he has presented in Art Farm. It is fantastical biographical, I am sure, but first and foremost it is sharp comedy drama.
A good read, and I’ll look out for more from Dickerson in the future. Perhaps a more coherent and clever narrative would have persuaded me to award the extra star; I will advise not to expect a straightforward story arc – and ensure that you read the epilogue. Overall, just think of the fun you’re having while reading it. The premise and the opening act are cracking ones, as the plot and characters find their feet. Dickerson has created a wonderful cast and some great dialogue. I do hope, going forward, that he doesn’t feel tempted to stray too far from the comedy-drama genre, if perhaps bringing it a tiny bit more on beat. Good stuff.
A good read, and I’ll look out for more from Dickerson in the future. Perhaps a more coherent and clever narrative would have persuaded me to award the extra star; I will advise not to expect a straightforward story arc – and ensure that you read the epilogue. Overall, just think of the fun you’re having while reading it. The premise and the opening act are cracking ones, as the plot and characters find their feet. Dickerson has created a wonderful cast and some great dialogue. I do hope, going forward, that he doesn’t feel tempted to stray too far from the comedy-drama genre, if perhaps bringing it a tiny bit more on beat. Good stuff.
July 22, 2026
A funny, meta book about writing from the POV of a bad writer (but written by a good writer.) it took a little while to find my vibe with this, it started and I worried that it was a less mean ‘Haunted,’ like Palahniuk-lite.
Mercifully, it is not, but its POV and twists are all super subjective as you realized the character of the protagonist (who I could not stand, as I believe was the intention.h
Thusly I gots mixed takes. But would read more!! I’d love to see the author unshackled from his dim, neurotic creation. His prose had a King-esq Everyman vibe with a Vonnegut-Ian twinkle.
Mercifully, it is not, but its POV and twists are all super subjective as you realized the character of the protagonist (who I could not stand, as I believe was the intention.h
Thusly I gots mixed takes. But would read more!! I’d love to see the author unshackled from his dim, neurotic creation. His prose had a King-esq Everyman vibe with a Vonnegut-Ian twinkle.
November 11, 2025
Excellent! Several layers of metaphors so well put together that I can imagine readers will miss some of them.
Keeping this one to read again.
Definitely getting more from this author.
Best purchase I made in all of Pennsylvania!
Keeping this one to read again.
Definitely getting more from this author.
Best purchase I made in all of Pennsylvania!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews