Pynchon & Real People

[Ronkarate at aol.com]

I haven't really been following this thread, but I thought I might interject
something I've been thinking about since I finished Vineland. 

What do you all make of Pynchon's use of pop culture references in the book?
Not so much the *purpose* as the *progression*. They seem to go through a
sort of "deterioration" - starting with realism (RETURN OF THE JEDI), moving
on to the believably fictional (the many made-for-TV  basketball films), and
finaly ending on the completely absurd (Pee Wee Hermann in THE ROBERT MUSIL
STORY). 
If anyone has any insight, I'd be very appreciative.

-Ron