VLVL2 (9): Fresson-process

[Tim Strzechowski]

130.19  "a Fresson-process studio photograph"   "This photographic printing process using coal makes it possible to obtain paper prints that do not deteriorate in light and which have a very special luminosity and grain." [...]
 
http://www.roland-collection.com/rolandcollection/section/29/665.htm

and an example:
http://www.museeniepce.com/coll/couleur_coll_us.html


In many ways, this reference parallels the notions of perception and reality/illusion that come up again and again throughout the text, beginning with Zoyd's fiasco at the Cucumber Lounge and continuing through "size 20,000 here" in this chapter.

Photography (like filmmaking) is another staple of Pynchon imagery, perhaps owing to the style through which he fashions his characters -- often cartoony and absurd, as if many of his characters can be summed up in easy labels: "hippie dad ," "cheating wife," "wisecracking daughter," etc.

While filmmaking is a recurrent motif in Pynchon's work, what about still photography?  Are there recurring instances of photography throughout the P canon?

How does the notion of photography itself -- capturing a live moment and preserving its image indefinitely; recording an instant so that it remains constant, unchanged -- reflect themes that are explored throughout this novel?

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://waste.org/pipermail/pynchon-l/attachments/20031102/61c65d1d/attachment.html>