political polarity and pynchon

[prozak at anus.com]

> > it seems to me this part, like his emerson references, place him
> > straight in the middle of gnostic theory. and in that, many of the
> > ways we understand things now are re-framed as theological conflicts.
> 
> Seems like the European crusaders of the nineteenth century discounted Islam
> as a potential motivating nationalist force. Popular Islam is treated as
> something quaintly exotic. The cultish Sufi dervishes, contemplative
> mystical poets who used the trance of automatic behavior to seek a higher
> state of consciousness, were associated with the Sudanese and therefore
> dangerous berserkers.
> 
> Eurocentric assumptions of elite control of politics, capital, and power?
> Oligarchy? Monarchism!?

or simply: a religious divide that has persisted far longer? on one 
side, there's hindus, gnostics and perhaps muslims. on the other, 
there's christians and related religions.

it's interesting how pynchon points out that the world "divides 
itself" into competing forces, and that from these, any synthesis 
desired can be achieved.

> Neither the Germans nor Porpentine seem the least bit concerned about the
> interests or influence of the local governments of the countries they are
> skulldugging over. Or the ultimate effects of their efforts upon the lives
> of the ordinary people who serve them coffee.
> 
> Goodfellow is a complete idiot who doesn't even bother to learn the language
> of the region to which he is assigned, and he's sent there anyway. He shouts
> in bad Arabic in French cafes. He seems primarily concerned with his own
> wilting dick. This man apparently has a future in British intelligence.
> 
> Is Pynchon mocking the James Bond mythology of cold war era Intelligence?
> 
> Or is the naive Pynchon voice really naive?
> 
> He doesn't seem to give a shit about the locals either (though he has more
> fun with them in V).
> 
> What's going on here? Has he just constructed a believable setting based
> upon old travel guides? A feat of great science fiction or fantasy?
> 
> Did TRP even know what the hell he was doing here?
> 
> He's still coming across like a college kid in love with his own ability to
> go to the library.
> 
> Is Eddie Bettano going to beat me with stolen car parts for this post?
> 
> I don't know. Just tossing stuff out.

pynchon himself may succumb to this. he partially endorses several 
philosophies, but seemingly can't trust enough to articulate them 
through fully.

in my view, many of these aspects of pynchon's literature arise from 
his reputedly intensive use of high-grade marijuana (not that i'd 
recommend such a thing).

www.anus.com/etc/blunts/

-- 
Backup Rider of the Apocalypse
www.anus.com/metal/
DEATH AND BLACK METAL