The New York Review of Books: Occidentalism

[Paul Mackin]

Hi Otto and Charles--I meant to remark on the bringing of Spengler into the
West/East thing.  The quotes of Spengler in the article make him sound like a
Nazi but if Anglo-America were really in decline like S sez why would
defeating it have been of such urgent concern--I refer of course to the
idealogical reasons for defeating it--striking a blow for a return to the volk
ideal--rather than the practical imperial rivalistic/Western  reasons. In
other words what made Hitler's Germany a close relation to bin Laden's  Islam
ideologically speaking?  As for bin Laden if the West be truly in decline why
is it necessary to crash airplanes into its most cherished monuments.  The
most interesting thing about occidentalism is its contradictions. If N____
Music is poluting the Rationalism of the West is it not at the same time
infusing soul where formerly only reason dwelt? Muddled thoughts perhaps, but
suggestive I would guess. (my muddle not the article's)

I thought the article might be useful because it puts in the foreground why
WWII could never have been solely a war over markets though some among us seem
to wish the master had so written it. I of course don't think he did but still
this question occurs to me: Did Gravity's Rainbow skimp on the Nazi ideology
angle?

P

Otto wrote:

> Thanks for it, it's a very fine essay.
>
> Otto
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <calbert at hslboxmaster.com>
> To: Paul Mackin <paul.mackin at verizon.net>
> Cc: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2002 6:42 PM
> Subject: Re: The New York Review of Books: Occidentalism
>
> > I had intended to recommend this yesterday.....the authors
> > ambitions, it appeared to me, exceeded their reach....but it was a
> > very informative piece and a very interesting argument.....I urge
> > folks to check it out........it really does offer a different perspective
> > on "the struggle"....
> >
> > In the same issue there is a review of a book on the history of
> > London........Skim it - there is yet another of those Pynchonian
> > concurrences which MUST be coincidental, or maybe not......
> >
> > Rent Way of the Gun TODAY! That writer is without peer in the
> > US.......
> >
> > ......and hi, paul.......
> >
> > love,
> > cfa
> >
> > > http://www.nybooks.com/articles/15100
> > >
> > >
> > > This is a discussion of what the authors call "occidentalism." The
> > > word has been coined I believe both along the lines of words like
> > > racism and sexism, but its coinage is also an obvious nod to the term
> > > "orientalism." Anyway, I found the article a help in organizing my
> > > thinking about war and conflict in the world in the past and in the
> > > present. MalignD's post of a minute ago reminded me of its existence
> > > in the current NY Review of Books.
> > >
> > >   P.
> > >
> >
> >