SLSL 'Low-lands': racist, sexist and fascist talk

[tess marek]

--- jbor <jbor at bigpond.com> wrote:
> on 8/1/03 2:21 AM, The Great Quail at
> quail at libyrinth.com wrote:
> 
> > 9. Again, referring to Pynchon¹s own claims that
> "Low-lands" is infected by
> > sexism, racism, and fascism:
> > 
> > A) Does anyone see any overt racist elements in
> his characterization of
> > Bolingbroke? The gypsies? Is this what he even
> meant?
> > 
> > B) What about fascism? Does anyone but Pynchon see
> any elements of this in
> > "Low-lands?"
> 
> In the 'Intro' Pynchon writes that "[m]odern readers
> will be, at least, put
> off by an unacceptable level of racist, sexist and
> fascist talk throughout
> the story. I wish I could say that this is only Pig
> Bodine's voice, but, sad
> to say, it was also my own at the time." He
> concludes the paragraph thus:
> "the narrative voice in this story here remains that
> of a smart-assed jerk
> who didn't know any better, and I apologise for it."
> (p. 11)
> 
> There is, particularly in the first half of the
> story, a flip, sophomoric
> tone to the narrative voice, I agree.

Can you provide an example, please?

> 
> I think the characterisations of both Cindy and
> Nerissa - the attitude of
> the male characters in the story *and* the narrator
> to women - are what he
> is thinking of as "sexist". (Eg. the narrator
> describing Cindy as a
> "terrier", Pig saying to Flange "Bring her in and
> let me have seconds." etc)

Come on Q, it's a slam dunk. P tries to shake this in
VL but fails. Even P's latest, M&D , is sexsit. 

> 
> As for "racist talk", well, Cindy referring to
> people like Rocco and Pig as
> "animals" and "apes", 

NO! 


the comically condescending
> ethnic stereotypes (Rocco
> the Italian garbage man, Geronimo the crazed
> Hispanic psychiatrist,
> Bolingbroke the Negro bigamist/alcoholic/dump
> watchman), the way
> nationalities get attached to characters like
> labels, and the dump-living
> gypsies who "only come out at night". (NB Flange's
> comment that "it was
> right that there should be gypsies living in the
> dump".)

No, this is a misreading. 


> 
> I think the "fascist talk" might relate to Flange's
> admiring vision of
> Bolingbroke as the dump-kingdom's "uncontested
> ruler", Bolingbroke's "booby
> traps" and "hunk of pipe" at the ready to injure or
> maim those shady gypsies
> who are like a subject population or bunch of rebels
> within the territory,
> and perhaps the story about invading Cuba and
> claiming it for Italy?
> 
> best


No! This is so rediculous.  




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