VLVL2 (1) Zoyd's WORK=?US-ASCII?Q?=A0?=

[mjoseph at rci.rutgers.edu]

The most conspicuous fact of Zoyd'w work is its patent absurdity. It is 
a job dreamed up by a child -  let's see, dress up like dad (or mom), 
and saw up some furniture! Or jump through a window made of candy!! That 
it is so so weirdly gendered re-emphasizes its childishness (which may 
or may not be analogous to its innocence). The homoerotic or homosocial 
overtones Tim pointed out in his very helpful apparatus seem more 
immediately ascribable to a pre-sexual (so-called) phase of development 
- although I think Tim is accurately pronouncing the queer/polymorphous 
perversity theme that runs through Vineland (well, like a vein) - which 
is reinforced throughout this chapter, e.g. in Zoyd's choice of 
breakfast, in his habit of drowsily rising from sleep, his metaphysical 
connection with pigeons (with, among other things, are symbols of 
lactating breasts), his sibling-like relationship with Prairie, and, of 
course, his name, Zoyd which suggests (again, among other things) "boy" 
and "toy." There is also a symbolic birth image inlaid in the image of 
the "fig" curling at the window, which implies a woman's genitals (as 
well as daughter-again, Zoyd as asexual or hybrid - a human 
representation of the overarching trope of Vineland's essential 
hybridity).


Michael

> 
> > Though, the government only wants him to do "something publicly 
crazy" by a
> > certain date each year (3.11). The particular manifestation of 
craziness is
> > Zoyd's choice, and he takes a distinct though bizarre pride in both 
his
> > apparel and the performance itself (cf. his not telling Prairie 
about the
> > "sugar window"), as well as in the quality of its televisation. 
> 
> 
> Yes, this is a very important point. It is,  for example,  Z's
> **choice** to put on a dress. Z wants a dress that will look good on 
the
> Tube. And he gets the dress because his plan is to do something 
> different this year (go up to a logger bar in a dress with Cheryl's
> pretty little chain saw and destroy some of the property there instead
> of jumping through a window). 
> 
> 
> Notice how Berger deal with this fact (Z's **choice** to wear a 
dress). 
> 
> (BTW, Berger says the dress is a K-mart dress). 
> 
> 
> 
>  Also, they choose the set, the location, the window. And, as Buster
> reminds him, Z's particular manifestations of insanity (his MO or
> jumping through glass) is what they want him to do for the money. He
> needs to do the same thing each year. Like any actor he tires of the
> same old routine and wants to "be creative" but the paying public (the
> government, tax payer,  Tube business, Tube audience) wants to see Z
> jump through glass.  
> 
> But, yeah,
> > Berger's got a point, though there's certainly complicity on Zoyd's 
part
> > (and it's worth comparing this with how Frenesi and Flash have also 
ended up
> > on the government payroll as well.)
> 
> Yup! 
> 
> 
> > 
> > But I don't really see this as a form of employment: it is only a 
once a
> > year performance so that he will keep getting his "mental-disability 
check",
> > which is pretty much the same as an unemployment benefit. 
> 
> 
> OK, but Zoyd works for the government. 
> 
> More importantly, disability and unemployment are **not** the same
> thing. 
> 
> Like unemployment insurance, Workers pay into an insurance fund and if
> they become disabled, they can collect a benefit. The government 
merely
> collects and disburses the money -- much like a private insurance
> company would. 
> 
> A little history: 
> 
> Disability was not part of the the 1935 SS Act, but is a program that
> began in  the 1950's. It was one of LBJ's babies. The great deal maker
> got it passed, but making great deals requires compromise. 
> 
> Reagan wanted to gut it. 
> 
> The Congress didn't. 
> 
> Reagan used his **presidential powers**  to gut it. Putting thousands
> upon thousands of mentally disabled people out on streets. 
> 
> 
> http://www.ragged-edge-mag.com/0302/0302ft5.html
> 
> 
> 
> I guess his yabbie
> > sideline with RC and Moonpie out along Phantom Creek is something 
though.
> 
> 
> Yup. Z has rackets like everyone else in the novel.
> 
>