pynchon-l-digest V2 #1794

[Jane]

Mike Weaver wrote:
> 
> Terance:
> 
> >How about Mason's Father, the Baker? He's practical and
> >pragmatic man, a bit too religious for your taste I'm sure,
> >but he does raise the children when his son goes off to
> >America. And P affirms that particular experience. How about
> >Fina in V., she is a very practical and pragmatic women, she
> >takes Benny in and helps him get a job. Again, like Mason,
> >Benny isn't able to deal with the practical and pragmatic
> >"mundane" life of family, but Pynchon, and in his Slow
> >Learner Introduction or see the Essay posted by Otto,
> >affirms the pragmatic and practical acts of Fina. How about
> >Tantivy? How about when Pig Bodine saves Roony's life. How
> >about Geli? How about DL? I can give tons of support for
> >this, but pick one of these and we can debate my point.
> 
> All laudable acts of humanity at an individual level,but collective
> political action is what we are discussing, which is a different level to
> individual actions.
> Try again please.

But but but but but McMurphy, collective political action is
what I am saying people should not claim is advocated by the
implied author Thomas R. Pynchon. 

Saying that one is against globalization and this is in line
with what one reads in Pynchon's books is a big problem not
only because this argument is a misreading of the books, or
because Pynchon is an artist and not a political activist,
his books are art and not political manifestos, but because,
as I said, his "Project," if P can be said to have one at
all, is practical activity and the affirmation of the
particular experiences of individuals. These may be
political acts, best if they are funny and disruptive acts
of young boys and girls, or writing a satire or making a
satirical music or blowin that kazoo, giving the Bronx cheer
to the manager, director, mayor or President, signing a
protest letter as intellectuals do or writing books, by any
means anarchistic and chaotic, but collective organized
political struggle is debunked in P's fiction. 

Please give your examples to counter this, I don't want to
give all the textual support here. ]

Jane