GW, hepcat

[jporter]

Long ago and many battles back, I squared off with one very learned dude by
the name of Keith Brecher over a few details of neuroanatomy, and if y'all
might remember I made, to him, the outrageous claim that M&D's "funniest"
parts mediated some of the most serious and solemn themes of the book. I
hadn't yet read of the Indian tribe that could only laugh at serious and
solemn objects d' worship, later in the tale.

But being in the zone, it felt right, so I went with it.

 Keith didn't buy it, and scoffed at Gershom and George, The Octuple
Gloucester, Giant Vegetables, etc., being anything more than weak attempts
at humour. I asked, practically begged him to stay around until MDMD
reached those places and the case might be made. I wish he had stayed but
he is probably off somewhere in a corner, with McElroy.

The inadvertent attempt by Jules to show up Pynchon's command of dialect
has had just the opposite effect. We hear now some of the most "gorgeous"
posts to date- debating and fleshing out the subtleties of the G&G scene.
The concern and mutual respect for detail, the gentle taunting, the give
and take, the damned Archeology! of the scholars hunched over this gem,
gradually uncovering its precious outlines and bringing it to our light.

Still something of the hidden gravity of the scene, despite the serious
quest for "getting it right" it has engendered, seems to have been missed,
and perhaps something of its pure comic effect, as well.

Not sure if I could continue to hold my position were you still around
Keith, maybe I should join you and McElroy.

jody