Regression

[LARSSON at vax1.mankato.msus.edu]

Ron wonders:
"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."


Interesting point.  I've seen similar "regressions" in V and COL49.  In the
former, Benny watches TV 3 times while Fina tries to get him interested in
her.  The first time he watches a western, then a silent Tom Mix film, then
THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY (possibly the first narrative film to use editing).
In COL 49, Mr Toth refers to the full-animation Tex Avery Porky Pig film
but is later watching the mass-production limited animation of Hanna-Barbera
(Magilla Gorilla, et al.)


Don Larsson, Mankato State U (MN)