"Art Kills Kids"

            In his novel, “The Family Fang,” Kevin Wilson analyzes the influential and magnetic forces of the family unit. Through his depiction of the bizarre and chaotic Fang family, Wilson reveals to the reader the importance of close familial ties and the significant influence that parents have on the type of adults that their children will eventually become. Despite the obviously close ties between the members of the Fang Family—exemplified by the family-oriented nature of their exhibition art— the tendency of subverting normality and producing chaos in the name of art proved difficult in raising well-adjusted children. Wilson clearly depicts the harmful effects that Camille and Caleb’s neurotic obsession with their art has on Annie and Buster. These effects manifested within their children during adulthood as they worked to discover their lives outside of the bubble of their parent’s strange world.

            Throughout his novel, Wilson intentionally juxtaposes two illustrations of family: a source of chaos and a bastion of unity. A clear illustration of this contrast lies within one of the first depictions of the family’s artistic stunts. In this event, Annie and Buster intentionally play horrible music in hopes of raising money for their nonexistent sick puppy.  Once they start playing, their parents begin to act as horrible critics; booing them off of the stage. After their cries of malice begin to ring out, a riot erupts as half of the audience joins them in their condemnation and the other half defends the children’s music. This riot serves as an obvious illustration of the chaos that Camille and Caleb force their children to endure. Even though it is staged, Annie and Buster cannot help but feel “hurt and embarrassed” by their parent’s loud critiques. Camille and Caleb intentionally subject their children to trauma, but justify it by calling their actions “art.” After the riot, Annie and Buster escape and hide out in a park until their parents can come to retrieve them. When the family finally reunites, they “walk into the sunset…[holding] hands and sing[ing].” Wilson paints this illustration of the united family unit jointly walking into the sunset together in hopes of contrasting the earlier image of madness with one of peace. Despite the turmoil created Camille and Caleb’s obsession with their art, at the end of the day the Fangs are a family. No amount of commotion can undermine the strength of their familial bonds.

            Through Wilson’s portrayal of Camille and Caleb, he subtly comments on the destructive consequences that parents’ actions can have on their children. Children need stability and comfort in their childhoods. They need a touchstone of love and certainty in a world full of chaos. Camille and Caleb never gave their children a sense of normalcy and because of this, Annie and Buster grew up unable to navigate their lives outside of the strange world that their parents forced them into.  Camille and Caleb devoted their lives to creating madness. Normalcy never existed as an option for Annie and Buster because they were forced into the spotlight and compelled to aid in schemes that always resulted in social upheaval. Hobart—Caleb’s idol and artistic mentor—commented on the actions of the parents when he said that they made their children “their art.” He then calls this “amazing,” but admits that “art kills kids.” This statement comments on the consequences that their parent’s obsession had on Annie and Buster. Their lives were built around their parent’s need to cause mischief and confusion. They were raised to revolt against normalcy and constantly work to be different from the rest of society. Because of this, their views on the world around them became skewed and thus prevented them from being able to really enter society and feel any sense of belonging.

            The damning effects of their abnormal childhoods manifest themselves through Annie and Buster’s careers. Each child strives to make something of themselves and find their way in life outside of their parent’s strange world. They want to prove to society that they are more than just “Child A” and “Child B.” Annie and Buster hope to make something more of themselves than just props in their parent’s infamous spectacles.  Despite these efforts, both Annie and Buster cannot live a life free of chaos or filled with personal success. The magnetic forces of their family’s turmoil always lure them into needing drama and upheaval in their lives. Annie tries to become a successful actress; a career that is built off of attention and constantly puts her in the spotlight. Throughout her career she makes decisions that cause tribulation in her life and hurt her prospects for success. Buster follows the same pattern in his career as a writer.  When his second book flopped and received bad reviews, he let this barricade his hopes for fame and success. He lets himself fall prey to self-doubt and pity. He tries to find excitement when he goes to Nebraska to interview ex-soldiers who have become famous for making guns using potatoes. During this trip, he makes the decision to let an inebriated man shoot a beer can off of his head; a decision that physically and detrimentally harms him. Both children display an innate need for drama and chaos in their lives. Neither Annie nor Buster can live a life of normalcy and crave the madness that characterized their childhoods.

            Through this novel, Wilson portrays to his readers an image of a crazy and bizarre family. Through the Fang family, Wilson both illustrates the strong and magnetic forces of the familial unit and condemns the effect that bad parenting can have on children. With each peculiar event in the book, Wilson drives home the idea that no matter how hard a person tries; he cannot escape the wounds inflicted upon him in his childhood.