Pynchon's treatment of organized crime

[Richard Romeo]

I'd say his treatment of the mob is pretty much stereo-typing and
satire, particularly in Vineland

 

Richard (sicilian)

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pynchon-l at waste.org [mailto:owner-pynchon-l at waste.org] On
Behalf Of jolly
Sent: Sunday, October 31, 2004 4:20 PM
To: pynchon-l at waste.org
Subject: Re: Pynchon's treatment of organized crime

 

Though the WASTE aesthetes may find this a bit trite or close to noir or
social realism or whatever other lit. category they have recently
mothballed,  a discussion of  TP's representation of organized crime and
"mafia" related themes could be an interesting perspective on his work.
Vineland (though keeping in mind that Vineland  is considered one of
TP's "smaller" novels)  has many scenes which seem to suggest that
Pynchon's California is rife with not only police state control freaks
such as Vond and Bopp (TP almost seems to predict the coming of King
Ahh-nuld), but mafiosi, of the predictable Sicilian/Italian type, as at
the Italian wedding scene.  Though it would be a bit of a stretch to
label TP as Chandler-esque, there are some who have noted noir elements
in TP's depiction of Cali, especially the rather sordid scenes of LA
(and Hollywood types such as"Sid") in both COL4! 9 and Vineland.

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