Boomer myopia

[Carvill John]

> > "Gravity's Rainbow, while ostensibly about World War II, was
> > actually about American Cold War hegemony and Vietnam"
>
>The word "actually" seems to be the real culprit in this sentence, and 
>should perhaps be replaced with a humble "also." It's double refraction, 
>innit? Look through the crystal of GR and see two wars!
>

Yes, and my guess is that the author really means 'also', rather than 
'only'. But there's no mistaking Pynchon's interest in the 60s, and of 
course we know from various sources of his interest in, and protesting 
attitude to, the Vietnam war. But in any case, Kieth Gessen's article isn't 
saying 'only' - he also says GR was about 'American Cold War hegemony' 
doesn't he, and it's all part of a wider point about books being 'about' the 
era they're written in as well as the one you're set in.

I guess from your tone, Monte, that your strong reaction to this stuff is 
coloured to some extent by your existing attitude to the 1960s, Vietnam, and 
of course to the 'boomers'. Here's a statement you can feel free to beat me 
up about if you like: Pynchon is a political author. HIs politics are on 
display throughout his work, yet a lot of his readers, even his 'fans', 
don't necessarily agree with Pynchon's political viewpoint and, as we've 
seen over and over in the case of Vineland, it affects their enjoyment of 
his books when the politics become overt. Which, from what I've read of - 
and heard about - ATD so far, means we could well be in for some quite 
polarised political debate, 'specially when the ATD Group Read rolls around.

Just to be clear: I'm not setting up an argument here, jsut stating my view, 
and open to other opinions as ever.

Cheers
JC

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