god(s) and the machine

[Otto Sell]

----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Fiero <rfiero at pophost.com>
To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 24, 2000 8:13 AM
Subject: Re: god(s) and the machine

> At 07:16 PM 12/22/00, jbor wrote:
> >H. Adams, Wm. Gibson, H.G. Wells, the 'net, god(s) etc:
> >
> >http://www.smh.com.au/news/0012/23/spectrum/spectrum1.html
> >
> >best
>
>  From the article:
> "The attraction of virtual realities and imaginary parallel
> universes on the Internet encourages people to opt out of the
> kind of flesh-and-blood relationships that are the
> indispensable condition of shared religious meanings."
>
> In a similar vein:
> " . . . chaos theory presents us with the possibility of 'a
> metaphysically attractive option of openness, a causal grid
> from below which delineates an envelope of possibility (it is
> not the case that anything can happen but many things can),
> within which there remains room for manoeuvre.'"
> This last from a URL offered by Terrance and quoted.
> http://www.nd.edu/Departments/Maritain/ti98/carroll.htm
>
> Pomo is very fun. I fail to see the usefulness when applied to
> Thomas Pynchon.

Sorry for that. It really helps.

>Pomo is also not needed for the above quotes
> which deconstruct themselves.

"pomo" and "deconstruction" are synonyms.

>I'm sure pomo must be
>enormously useful somewhere.
>

Yes, for hunting down binaries in affimative texts which necessarily
deconstruct themselves.

Some more quotes from this interesting url rj provided.
Note especially the following terms: eclecticism, subversive of established
hierarchies, plurality, no centre from which will can be applied, the centre
... the margins, the sacred and the profane.

"One of the characteristics of religion on the Internet is its eclecticism."
"the Net is by nature subversive of established hierarchies and traditions
not only on account of this plurality but also because of the Net's
essential anarchy."
"No-one is in control."
"The Net has no centre from which will can be applied."
"If indeed [the Net] takes power away from the centre and gives it to the
margins (...)"
"Without enchantment, the line between the sacred and the profane is finally
obliterated."

Otto