Rancho Absurdo

Paul Mackin mackin at allware.com
Sun Mar 30 06:16:20 CST 1997


Nothing like cutting straight to the bone as Julius does in sourcing the contempt for mortality demonstrated in San Diego to Greek idealism. Not exactly a nightmare from which modern life is anywhere near to awakening. So therefore what pitiable chance could OUR OWN BOOK  have as a possible influence in the face of such a tradition. Because naturally Pynchon's text had jumped immediately to mind (mine anyway) upon hearing the news report, because for us Pynchonians don't all roads lead to GR? BUT, isn't OUR BOOK problematic as all get out here? By all accounts it's a monumental effort to treat death as a serious matter, while at the same time, who can doubt it, it gives huge emphasis to the all too human project of overcoming that finale which comes for us all. What else is THE COUNTERFORCE  but the struggle by a few of our favorite foax to escape by any means available THE SYSTEM OF DEATH, PARANOIA AND PRETERITION?  Because, though the efforts at transcendence cannot be said to have been a complete success, nevertheless,  the attempt is praiseworthy and in a ghastly way akin to the motivations of those poor misguided ones of Rancho Santa Fe.

What strange thoughts to be having on this beautiful Easter Sunday morning when resurrection and transcendence are celebrated and commemorated thoughout the world. Happy Easter to all of you whether believers or not.
			
				P.
----------
From: 	JULIUS RAPER[SMTP:jrraper at email.unc.edu]
Sent: 	Saturday, March 29, 1997 10:11 AM
To: 	pynchon-l at waste.org
Cc: 	pynchon-l-digest at waste.org
Subject: 	Re: Rancho Absurdo

Paul's question about where one learns about the dangers of shedding one's
mortal container is a good one. Certainly it would not be in computer,
mathematical, or music classes, if the bios coming out about the suicides
are accurate.  Nor in the classes that provide the footnotes to Plato that
make up the mainstream of philosophy courses.  After 2400+ years of
"contempt for the corporeal," to quote from an earlier message, can we
expect our culture to resist the temptations of the bodiless state?  And
now that the double-millennial madness has struck, things will start
popping. If
we are lucky, this Rancho debacle could be the innoculation against the
disease.  If not, perhaps
the temptations to soul-transvestism in V. and the fates of Herbert,
Benny, and the confused chick whose name starts with a vector pointed 
down could provide excellent cautions against contempt for one's
own fleshy envelope. Where is the necessary respect for the somewhat Lower
Sources?       JRR










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