VLVL College of the Surf and PR3

[jbor]

on 24/1/04 10:06 AM, Terrance at lycidas2 at earthlink.net wrote:

>> When the narrator or Rex comments that the College of the Surf revolt was
>> "not much by Berkeley or Columbia standards" (208) he's referring to the
>> Berkeley '64 and Columbia '68 revolts. We've established that PR3 takes
>> place in mid-1969, haven't we?
> 
> Yes we have. However, I've still no idea why you keep saying the
> Berkeley 64. The narrator does not provide the dates. However, it's
> clear to me that he is referring to the later dates. Why? First because
> I'm convinced that Pynchon has written a parodic addendum to Sale's
> text, a post-Columbia and Berkeley 68, that would be PR3 69.

I agree that PR3 occurs after 1968, and that it's not set in Columbia or
Berkeley. I've been saying that all along. 1964 is when a major protest
occurred at Berkeley, and the comparison (208) is made with prior
manifestations of student revolt, not between institutions. I still have no
idea why you keep saying it's a parody of Sale's book. It's clear to me that
it isn't.

I guess I should also add something to the effect that showing that the
student movement had become more violent by 1969 is not really a point worth
making and that "if Pynchon's point is to tell us his version of what
happened by 69 he should get out of the novel writing business."

best