Elster’s House in the Desert

After meeting for the second time at the 24 Hour Psycho exhibit in New York and Jim convinces Elster to consider the documentary, they travel to Elster’s house in the desert. The house is large enough to accommodate three people comfortably; it is maintained by a caretaker when no one is there; and it has a deck with a view on which Elster and Jim spend most of their time, observing and discussing the landscape. The desert becomes a symbol of isolation, sublime nature, the sterility of the world, the slow decay of the universe, among other things. Elster’s house is isolated from the rest of society, a retreat from the noise of New York and the politics of Washington.

The Museum of Modern Art

Jim spends the prologue and epilogue of the novel in the MOMA—specifically in the 24 Hour Psycho...