VLVL2 (2): Film as Metaphor

[Tim Strzechowski]

So far in our reading of Vineland, we've encountered mention of the following films:  Return of the Jedi (p. 7), The Clara Bow Story (p. 14), Friday the 13th (p. 16), and Gidget (p. 17).  Of these four films, the only one that is of Pynchon's invention for the sake of the narrative is The Clara Bow Story.

Assuming that Pynchon chose carefully the films he would use at these particular moments in the narrative (and not pull titles at random "from a hat"), what can we say so far about the film choices and their relevence to the scenes and/or conversations in which they appear?  For instance:

Why is Return of the Jedi mentioned in the Cuke Lounge scene as the reason for a "change of consciousness"?  

Are their connotations with the film Gidget (and/or its various sequels) that help Zoyd's conversation with Prairie resonate with meaning beyond the literal?

Why Friday the 13th?  With all the monster flicks made by, say, 1980 that *could* have been mentioned (including Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), what does Pynchon's use of Jason in this particular film series signify for the narrative?  Why the first film in the series?

Why does Pynchon use a fictitious made-for-TV film in the opening scene for Chapter Two?  Why Clara Bow?  Why Pia Zadora to portray her?  (I have a theory on this, which I'll post later, but by all means dig into the question now if you like.)  

How do the films that are referenced throughout the narrative enhance the reader's understanding of the scenes in which they appear?  Or do they?

(Remember, upon the novel's debut, several critics faulted Pynchon for his use of pop culture references, suggesting that they were either "meaningless" or distracted from the text.  Can we merely dismiss these film references as throwaway lines in the text, or do they possess metaphorical significance within the scenes in which they appear?)

Respectfully,

Tim




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