Asians in Pynchon ( was Re: Japanese in Vineland

[Micah_Bedwell_at_PHPOST at mail.nextel.com]

     My girlfriend and I currently reading "Vineland" to each other at 
     night("cracked crab, a crisp chardonnay, on a hillside...").
      We are at the point were Frenesi Gates has been whisked off Telegraph 
     Avenue by...oh man, I forgot the chick's name riding the motorcycle.
     
     "Vineland" is a very sleek running book.
     
     Micah


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Re[2]: Asians in Pynchon ( was Re: Japanese in Vineland 
Author:  matthew.percy at utoronto.ca at INTERNET
Date:    09/18/96 14:37


Perhaps the best reworking of American stereotypes of Japanese culture in 
VL is Pynchon's rewriting/digs of/at the Star Wars trilogy, probably one 
of the more grotesque instances of Orientalism I can think of.  I mean 
really, what was Star Wars other than a neutered Californian  
version of Kurosawa's film, and a bastardized new age version of Eastern 
philosophies (i.e. think about the force in terms of ch'i).  Yoda as 
caricature of zen philosopher, Imperial archietecture reflecting 
stereotypes of Japanese othereness... I could go on, but I'm sure you get 
the point.
I still have problems with the stereotypes of Takeshi, tho'.  It seems to 
80s xenophobia for me.
     
Just like popping womp rats in my land speeder,
     
Matthew "Salacious Crumb" Percy