Thoroughly postmodern Pynchon

[Samuel Moyer]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Terrance" <lycidas2 at earthlink.net>
To: "jbor" <jbor at bigpond.com>
Cc: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2001 6:07 PM
Subject: Re: Thoroughly postmodern Pynchon


>
>
> jbor wrote:
> >
> >     ... the story, whose main
> >     aim is the quest for the lady V., finally dissolves in a
never-ending
> >     chain of signifiers that always escapes an ultimate categorical
meaning.
>
> I don't know about that chain. Chain? Does V ever sport a
> chain? Maybe that's it!
> ah! THE chain. the CHAIN! The great chain of V!
>
> of thee oh chain, never ending,
>
> chain of never ending signifiers
>
> we give ultimate categorical non meaning
>
> [bowing our head and saying (while holding up a double peace
> sign, like Nixon, and nodding all four finger heads at
> once)]
>
> Great CHAIN of Meaning!


I haven't followed this string entirely and I've never been comfortable with
the term Postmodern... I read once where someone described V. as a
minimalist work, which I took as "saying a hell of a lot more than 500 pages
worth in 500 pages."  I have always liked that... Every time I re-read V.,
and seriously... I enjoy it more each time... I find it says more and
more.... Sure there are a finite number of words... but c'mon Doug, you are
handy with a dictionary... hey, I remember the first time I read Rabelais
(Though I can't remember the last time - ha ha) and I had all my
dictionaries there... making notes... my copies of Bakhtin and LeFebvre
(granted... I was doing my thesis... history)  and it was then that I
discovered that literature can say tons without saying tons.... That is... A
talented writer, Rabelais or Pynchon, can in 500 or so pages, produce a work
so full of symbols and history (etc) that a reader with time, patience, a
love for the written word, enough gin, can draw endless meaning out of it...
I present Exhibit A : Dave Monroe's bibliography..... who but Dave can keep
up with the scholarship available... (TRP sure... but who else? - not me)
We all know TRP did his research... we know that to understand the Gaucho,
Herrero, Irredentist....etc... you have to dig into your history books... we
also know that to get a fix on Time/Space, mirrors, clocks, abortion, soul,
virginity, inanimate/animate, etc.. we have to dig deep.... TRP doesn't give
us the answers...

Anyway, going through the archives earlier, then reading these posts (I am
73 in the hole)... it seems that Doug ought to be defending (agreeing with)
jbor here... afterall... if jbor is wrong... and if there is a finite number
of words and meanings... why bother... well... I will admit I haven't half
the intellect of most on this list... but aren't we spending 9 cooperative
months on this novel because it is difficult, enjoyable, funny, deep?  If
there truly are a finite number of words (and meanings) then please
unsubscribe me.... I'm wasting my time.

I don't know what the hell Postmodern means (yes, yes, yes - I looked it
up)... but I think jbor makes a good point and the Collado-Rodrigueza essay
also... Doug, I like so much of what you say, but don't let this hatred you
have for jbor force you ... ah hell, bartender... pour me another.

Sam