New Statesman, May 5, 2003, pp. 47-48

[Heikki Raudaskoski]

Just noticed the review of "A Journey Into the Mind of" by the
old Pynch industrialist John Dugdale. (I did visit London in
mid-May on my business trip to York, but there were no shows at
ICA that very Friday; did, however, meet the ever-so-hospitable
Mr Kyllo; and also, for a couple of hours at a cafe in Soho
(not Patisserie Valerie as it was too packed), Ms Abbas who was
*just* about to leave for Jordan and the Kurd areas in Iraq to
become a Near East journalist.)

So. Among other things, Dugdale sez that the film "convey[s] a
sense that Pynchon is the preserve of a backward-looking geeky
cult, wholly absent from the cultural present.
  In fact, Pynchon is everywhere in today's pop culture: in
The Simpsons ("You're reading Gravity's Rainbow?" Lisa asks
in awe of a student) and a slew of movies; shaping new-wave
sci-fi in Gibson's work; lending the X-Files its distinctively
Pynchonesque mix of state conspiracy, black humour and the
paranormal; name-checked by musicians as diverse as Laurie
Anderson, Warren Zevon, Yo La Tengo and, erm, Pat Benatar.
Radiohead lyrics echo him and the band's merchandising
website (w.a.s.t.e.) is a reference to Lot 49." Etc.


Heikki