A Journey Into the Mind of Watts

[davemarc]

The article isn't the greatest that I've read, but it's fine. I see it as a
believable atmosphere piece that conveys Pynchon's impressions of Watts. It
has a kind of rhapsodic flow that would work well read aloud by a thoughtful
narrator. It's perfectly suitable as a magazine feature article and
impressive for an inexperienced writer-journalist such as Pynchon.

It's possible that Pynchon used the research and input of others--including
Bill Bridges, the
photographer--in preparing the piece, but I have no problem believing that
he spent time hanging out in Watts gathering his impressions and then basing
the article upon them. His avoidance of quotations (and avoidance of
attributing the quotations he does offer) seems to be deliberate and, again,
acceptable for a magazine feature article. I think jbor has touched upon the
similarity of the article to travel pieces--this technique (and his use of
"you") can be found in such writing. For an example, look no farther than
the Introduction to the Manhattan section of The WPA Guide to New York.

I find it interesting to contemplate Pynchon roaming around Watts as a
reporter, taking the risk (for him) of making himself known to his subjects
as well as the Times
people, and then preserving the anonymity of his subjects in the finished
article. And then not writing any other such articles of the kind. I guess
he decided he wasn't cut out for that kind of work. Perhaps he felt it was
less stressful to devote himself to fiction and essays that didn't require
as much exposure of himself or his subjects.

Does anyone have ready access to subsequent issues of the magazine? I wonder
if any Letters to the Editor commented on the article.

For those interested in the different standards for the Times magazine and
the Times newspaper, consider this article by Dan Okrent. It talks about the
differences that exist today, but perhaps it offers some insight into
articles such as Pynchon's.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0DE1D71F3CF93AA15751C0A9629
C8B63

d.