MAD Magician

[Paul Mackin]

On Tue, 14 Sep 1999, Richard Romeo wrote:

> PS Halfway through Mr. Mendelson's article on the encyclopedic 
> GR--interesting contrast b/w pynchon's political usage of language as 
> compared to Joyce's more "biological", natural progression of language in 
> Ulysses.  Mendelson claims Pynchon's usage more relevant, since it is 
> politicized.

Naturally I guess I see what the gentleman means. However the word
'relevant' seems a tiny bit dated. Back before the 60s I don't remember
the word 'relevant' being used much in this sense. Don't think back then
we would very often express approval in that particular way,  though of
course I may be misremembering. If we liked something we might say we 'got
something out of it.' I certainly got a lot out of Ulysses but
please don't make me say what. Interesting difference in perspective.
Wonder what analogous approving word  might be applied to a
postmodernist work. Can something be relevant and irrelevant at the same
time.

The correct answer is YES.

:-)

			P.