Pornography & Technics & Death

[Paul Mackin]

The MENTION of pornography--that most disgraceful of all technologies--as
a stand-in for writing and analysis and even as a methphor for ALL
technology as used for CONTROL particularly for colonialistic-type
control but also for control in general seems clear enough to me anyway. 
But here's a question: If we accept the metaphor must we not also direct
sharp focus on the fact that AS WRITING p-text necessarily stands directly
implicated as a control process. Can we further therefore entertain the
possibility that such sexually arousing descriptions as in the coming
together of Slothrop and Bianca actually PORTRAYS this controlling and
colonializing process as regards the author reader relationship? A nice 
way to tie together porno as use and porno as mention. Or maybe a
not-so-nice way. A thought anyway.

It may be said that the reader is always the one in control--is free not
to interpret said scenes as porno. Yes, like the Indians with bows and
arrows are free to reject gunfire.

		P.