Where's Pynchon on the Modern Library List?

[Andrew Lack]

As a fellow alumnus (class of 2003), I can attest that at Mr. Pynchon's alma
mater, Cornell University, there are multiple courses each semester in which
young minds actually encounter any number of Pynchon novels on the syllabus.
In addition, Prof. Molly Hite, whose book on Pynchon remains one of the
finest out there, teaches a post-modern fiction course there at least once a
year, and Gravity's Rainbow is the central course novel. 

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pynchon-l at waste.org [mailto:owner-pynchon-l at waste.org] On Behalf
Of kelber at mindspring.com
Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 9:05 PM
To: pynchon-l at waste.org
Subject: Re: RE: Where's Pynchon on the Modern Library List?

Just did a quick browse of the English course listings for Harvard,
Princeton and Yale.  No Pynchon in any of the course listings at Princeton
(SP 2007).  Harvard and Yale, current term, had one listing each in 20th
century or post-war fiction.  The Harvard course covers COL49, the Yale one
doesn't specify.  So it would be easy to go a term or more as an English
major without encountering Pynchon.  Not to say that he's not mentioned in
lit crit type courses.  Morrison, by comparison, is covered in multiple
courses at all 3.

Laura

-----Original Message-----
>From: Joshua Lind <lindj at wou.edu>
>Sent: Dec 8, 2006 2:48 PM
>To: pynchon-l at waste.org
>Subject: Re: RE: Where's Pynchon on the Modern Library List?
>
>> I wonder which "top US University" he attended (Candlebrow? 
>> Lowbrow?) - in 
>> any case, I really hope that "Dan" is just a lazy student who 
>> slept through 
>> most of his classes, and that his ignorance isn't a reflection 
>> of a general 
>> academic tendency in "top US Universities". Any insiders on the 
>> p-list/fellow cultists who can enlighten us on this matter?
>> 
>
>I think it's very easy to escape a university with a degree in English
without gaining exposure to a particular author, especially if the major
program has "concentrations" (e.g. poetry, "British" literature, early
modern literature, creative writing, etc.).  That's to be expected.  What's
annoying about this guy's response is his apparent belief that exposure and
value are intimately connected.  Because Pynchon wasn't covered in a class
doesn't mean he's not important.
>
>I also think that writers who make their primary contributions in the novel
form have a harder time getting covered in undergraduate survey courses.
Especially modern writers.  But the Norton Anthology of American Literature
contains "Entropy," so there's that chance for exposure to Pynchon
there...if the professor chooses to assign it.
>
>Josh