Los Angeles, with its glamour-rama personae, endless jam of freeways and wasteland of neighborhoods, seems at odd contrast with the interests of a medievalist, but here he is. A weekend of postmodern art shows, visits with friends who make rock videos, and other slices of Southern California style. He makes the mistake of trying to figure it all out: the rise of Western culture and its demise, religion, art, television commercials. A perceptive and quirky book that is as hip as it is intellectual.