TPPM Barthelme: Barthelmismo

[Dave Monroe]

"Though to all appearances a gathering of odds and
ends, what this volume in fact offers us is the full
spectrum of vintage Barthelmismo -- fictions
thoughtfully concocted and comfortably beyond the
reach of time, reactions less exempt from deadlines
and rent payments to news of past moments that
nonetheless remain our own, not to mention literary
send-ups, intriguing recipes, magisterially extended
metaphors, television programming that never was,
strangely illuminated dreams, elegant ranting,
debonair raving, and more, much more."

http://www.themodernword.com/pynchon/pynchon_essays_barthelme.html

http://www.pynchon.pomona.edu/uncollected/barthelme.html


"Barthelmismo"

Cf. machismo, modernismo ...


"fictions ... beyond the reach of time"

Compare 'n' contrast, e.g., ...

"The modernist perspective which constituted an
ahistorical, seemingly timeless and universal view,
one epitomized by the 'international style' of
architecture has shifted to a more human, less
abstract, historically and geographically specific
perspective. Where modernism attempted the illusion of
a transcendence beyond all difference, postmodernism
embraces, celebrates and grows more vigorous because
of difference. We are changing from a society that
merely experiences history, to one that is the
constantly changing product of an on-going, dynamic
process."

http://www.lynnrandolph.com/texts/culturalEras.html

Comments?  Okay then ...


"elegant ranting, debonair raving"

Main Entry: el·e·gant
Pronunciation: 'e-li-g&nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from
Latin elegant-, elegans; akin to Latin eligere to
select -- more at ELECT
1 : marked by elegance
2 : of a high grade or quality : SPLENDID ...

Main Entry: deb·o·nair
Pronunciation: "de-b&-'nar, -'ner
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English debonere, from Old French
debonaire, from de bon aire of good family or nature
1 archaic : GENTLE, COURTEOUS
2 a : SUAVE, URBANE b : LIGHTHEARTED, NONCHALANT

http://m-w.com/

Not only reminiscent of a bygone age, but note also
etymologies, "elect," "of good family," cf. ...

"Pynchon’s family is a clan of bluebloods who were
misguided enough to align themselves with the wrong
side during not one, but two American Revolutions, one
in the eighteenth century and one in the twentieth
century, and who have suffered social and economic
reversals as a consequence...."

http://www.ottosell.de/pynchon/inferno.htm


		
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