V. and Lot 49

[Bonnie Surfus (ENG)]

REally?  _V._ is considered as immature and lacking in evocative 
emotional power?  I can't reconcile my response to this interpretation.  
I haven't read widely in _V._ crit. because it was suggested that I avoid 
it while I'm working on my paper--at least for now.  But I would love to 
read anything that suggest _V._ is not capable of provoking emotional 
responses.  I raged.

I agree about the length issue.  But when students must, they can.  They 
tend to bitch about long reading assignments and because we want them to 
like us and our courses, we defer to their sloth (no pun).  I hate to 
denigrate students but well, . . . maybe I should just say that _I_ used 
to bitch, etc.  Anyhow, certainly "Crying" is shorter and lends itself to 
coursework in this respect.  I am a simple feminist with a passion for 
uncovering conspiracy (maybe I should feel more for Oedipa).  I find 
_V._, therefore, more relevant to my concerns and my emotional 
orientation.  I was looking at the cover today.  I think it's fascinating 
that the woman is portrayed under a cardinal's robe--I wonder if Fellini 
thought of this figure when he made La Dolce Vita--where Anita Ekberg 
(can't recall the character's name) visits St. Paul's cathedral (as a 
publicity stunt, no less) in an ensemble that, while definitely a woman's 
dress and overcoat, is patterned after  clerical garb.  Just an aside.  
Anyhow, the whole notion of a hidden spirituality--female--buried under 
the cloak of a religion that favors male dominion, seems to provide an 
image that is comprehensive in its allusive power.  Yet it is 
mysterious.  It has a quality of obscurity, yet is speaks.  It seems to 
hold a secret and a power.
That it is an gynopomorphic (is this a word?) image, rather than a vague 
reference to "signs," encourages emotional responses rather than merely 
puzzlement.  

But I've got to grade papers now.  I'm glad we're busy praising _V._  Oh, 
and . . . I don't mean to slam anyonw who teaches "Crying..."  It's a 
step anyway.  HEre, we're lacking altogether.  

And what was that stuff about Pynchon having died last summer?  How did 
that start?  Anyone know?

Bonnie
USF
surfus at chuma.cas.usf.edu