ballistics, parabolas, etc.

[Hartwin Alfred Gebhardt]

Paul writes:

> Interesting discussion, Brian. But to me it brings to mind a nagging question
> I've had. The word (parabola) is used--for the most part--metaphorically. We 
> don't believe that there is anything about those secret lusts driving
> the planet that is _literally_ parabolic.

On the contrary - they ARE literally parabolic. (Somebody astutely 
mentioned escape velocity, for one.)

>                                                                   So why
> is it at least a little bit important that exact scientific meanings
> be attached? 

I agree. Also, P uses the 'parabola' as representing the 'normal' 
distribution curve in statistics; and he is more concerned with the 
moment of 'Brennschluss', and its symbolisms, rather than finer 
scientific niceties. If one gets too bogged down in these, they tend 
to take on the characteristics of red herrings.

> And yet it is important. Much of the pleasure of reading the books--though
> not nearly all-- comes from the recogition of various learned bodies
> of knowledge we have encountered elsewhere--science, history, politics,
> etc.  Yet the author is using his wide range mainly, if not solely, to
> evoke the human condition--not explicate some formal truth system.

Right - in order to represent / measure our increasing 
'inanimateness' . In order to document (like Nietzsche) both his 
awareness of, and complicity in, 'decadence'. 

> What is this demand for "truth" we seem to have? Why does having a lot of
> true things in a story make it better? 

It's part of the human perversion. In GR, the Ajtis (sp?) looses its 
life-affirming nature when it is written down, becomes a dead, 
chopped-up representation of what once was a young couple's 
expression of life / love. It relates to "the true nature of control" 
(and synthesis).

> Is this something like what they say when they advertise some mediocre TV 
> drama-- "based on a true story"? (On a lower level of course--ha ha.)

Oh no, on exactly the same level. ("The twenty-four hour movie under 
the rug"; "the rapid succession of stills" - GR.)
 
> Anybody else wondering along these lines?

Pynchon, for one. Hints in GR. Fully fledged, fully developed in 
Vinelands.

right on the money, paul

hg
hag at iafrica.com