AtDTDA (12): Tesla & His Masters

[David Morris]

There are a lot of issues that coalesce with this segment:

1.  Kit (and Vanderjuice before him) have been sponsored (bought?) by
the Capitalist Baron, Vibe.  What do they owe him?  Each feels bought,
and each wants to be free of that burden.  Vanderjuice was let go w/o
any action on his own behalf, but his advice to Kit, "just deny that
you owe him anything," is clearly inadequate, as Kit observes.

2.  Tesla is also "bought" (this time by JP Morgan - and why would JP
(a Vibe clone) sponsor someone who'll upset the status quo of power?),
and he also knows it.  He is obliged (at the very least) to act his
scientist-celebrity role, "Edisonian sweat," or be dropped flat
(broke).  Funding (whoredom) for non-applied sciences is clearly a
conundrum herein explored.  These "pure" scientist are clearly seen as
ideal/ists, and they might also be called "artists,"  and I'm sure
Laura is right that Pynchon identifies himself with them.

3.  Question:  how is Tesla any more "pure" (less burdened with guilt
and obligation) that Kit or Vanderjuice, because he clearly seems to
be so.  Or is he?

David Morris

On 6/25/07, kelber at mindspring.com <kelber at mindspring.com> wrote:
> Tesla's thoughts on the press-eye view of scientists could also express Pynchon's views on his own relationship with the press and literary critics:
>
> ""'Everything since, all you have seen in the press, has been the theatrical impersonation -- the Inventor at Work.  To the newspapers I can never speak of that time of simply waiting.  I'm expected to be consciously scientific [last 2 words in italics], to exhibit only virtues likely to appeal to rich sponsors -- activity, speed, Edisonian sweat, defend one's claim, seize one's chance -- If I told them how far from conscious the procedure really is, they would all drop me flat.'" (p. 327)