Watts article

[Malignd]

<<The descriptions are specific. For example, Pynchon
observes the ruins of the police command post with
"pigeons now thick and cooing up on its red-tiled
roof".>>

He also describes the command post as an "historic
landmark," hardly requiring a trip to Watts to be
aware of.

That "now" implies a direct first-hand experience on
the part of the writer.>>

No one is arguing that he’s not trying to imply
first-hand experience. 

<<There are direct quotations throughout the article,
all of them attributed to Watts locals.>> 

There are a couple, unnamed, compromised by the half
dozen or so "quotes" attributed to "others," "they,"
"you’ll hear," "them," "they" again, "others" again. 
Please explain how one attributes a direct quote to
"others."  Do you suppose "they" stand on the corner
and speak in unison?

<<He describes the low-rise housing and grass yards,
noting the suburb's physical difference from other
urban ghettos like Harlem.>> 

The fact that the LA ghettos are typically small
unattached suburban homes, as opposed to tenement
buildings, is a very very common bit of knowledge.

<<And he describes Watts Towers: they're in Watts, not
Newark or Detroit.>>

The so-named Watts Towers are, indeed, in Watts. 
Someone notify ppetto.

Here's his "description" of the Watts Towers:

"... the famous Watts Towers, ... a fantasy of
fountains, boats, tall openwork spires, encrusted with
a dazzling mosaic of Watts debris."  

The "famous" Watts Towers.  Buy a postcard and write
your own description. 





		




		
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