Pynchon's layered moral vision or Send in the Clowns, pp 678ff (again)

[Michael Bailey]

Mark Kohut wrote:
>
> Without needing Baudrillard's words, I might argue that TRP believes this
> about "the people",

his enthusiastic citing of "the indispensable proles" in
his foreword to _1984_ corroborates


> the observers of mass murderers in the world......and sees a circus, not a
> "proper' response..[comment; refute]

I seem to remember from Victorian Lit class that they were
fascinated by murders...the bloodier the better...
at least, that was one of the answers on my final exam...
I think the jesting tone wouldn't have been as evident, back then
(thinking of the high-pitched earnest horrification in _Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde_)
but that may just show my limited knowledge of Victorian Lit.

Maybe none of us is very far from being a bloody murderer;
but no murderer afaik has ever cited a film or play as his
(or her, but usually his) inspiration;
like the drummer in Vineland, comedy writers are taking the rude shocks
of life and putting them to a beat...

also - the play or musical is sort of a "double" of R. Vibe's
type of shows on Broadway...

Skeezicks - Uncle Wiggily character (sorry if somebody cited this
already), about the right time frame (c 1910 or so - appearing 1st
in the Newark News which possibly could be read and/or discussed
at Yale) http://www.burgee.com/skeezicks.jpg



>--
"Smith Jones asked me if the halibut could fit inside the mailbox. I
said I didn't think so" - Elizabeth Kolbert