*MD/GR
calbert at pop.tiac.net
calbert at pop.tiac.net
Sat Sep 13 14:56:04 CDT 1997
Dear Dana,
> Die Charles Albert, die.
Oh, how I love the spirit of objective discourse.
> The implicit question in my other post was:
> Why is the female anatomy always--literally and metaphorically--
> up for grabs? I'm serious.
a) As it represents a pretty powerful symbol, it will always
stimulate artistic expression. Are we to eliminate all such
references and add phallic ones to the list?
b)I had not seen it "up for grabs" on this list. I think most people
read the analogy and considered its merit without finding the author
insensitive. My admittedly limited experience with his work has not
suggested that he is a misogynist, and I think motivation is
important here.
> It isn't right; isn't _V._, in part, about the dangers of such metaphors?
> How do you separate them from the manifestation of, say, Sarah brutally
> handcuffed to the bed?
Without any difficulty whatsoever. I can enjoy classical works of art
depicting such distasteful themes as rape and brutality without going
outside and committing such acts myself, or, as difficult as it may
seem to believe, even wanting to. Its a little thing I like to call
context. But I do understand that there is a school of thought that
suggests that men are incapable of such distinctions, I just find
myself unconvinced by the likes of Dworkin and McKinnon(sp?).
> Or, maybe these questions don't matter to you....hmmm?
My unwillingness to view the world through a gender prism does not
necessarily make me blind to inequity. I have been consistent in my
argument that policing thought, whether it is gender insensitive or
questions the Holocaust, is not defensible. To argue so is not to
argue in favor of the suppression of women or the persecution of Jews.
> Anyway, I'm going now to polish my "language and metaphor" police-badge
> and my trophy for champion of the "sake of the offended."
Ration your indignation, life is long.
> Meanwhile, you and can go off and continue to reap the
> awards of the language that serves you.
And, from now on, you will be operating exclusively in ....? Please
send glossary.
love,
cfa
More information about the Pynchon-l
mailing list