litcrit*hit

[Don.Lloyd]

Rather than slam all the constipated criticism on TRP which
creates innumerable blackages in the digestive tracks of those
who try to devour such works, let us view the situation as
an alimentary ailment--if you consume criticism, it is only
natural to produce it yourself (and few of us come out smelling
like a rose).

Yes, much criticism is full of overblown crap, but most (if not
all) is motivated by the same thing that motivates us here--a
desire to better understands P's novels and share those under-
standings with like-minded people.

IMHO, it is the system of litcrit (of which we are both the architects
and humble pawns) which results in the quality (or lack thereof) of
prose we endure and produce on the roads to academic and financial
(is it too much to wish?) security.  There is another White Rocket
poised over our heads and it is attached to the crotch of that huge
collective tenure committe/journal review board in the sky.

Take this with a grain of salt as I am one who is leaving the White
Tower of Academia for fresher pastures (God I hope so) in that
larger Newt-loving world still jokingly refered to as America.

(Vineland, indeed!)

Don Lloyd