VL-IV (15) A Fairly Easy Level Of Play, pages 327/331

[Robin Landseadel]

On Apr 8, 2009, at 1:23 PM, rich wrote:

> I think the quip about Prarie seeing sports through the tube lens  
> (so to speak), mediated, is more plausible
>
> rich

There is lot in these last pages of the book that point right back at  
the Tube.

On Apr 8, 2009, at 2:46 PM, Joe Allonby wrote:
> I think Bill Russell may disagree with you.

And considering how far Pynchon goes back in looking for Left-Wing  
scores to settle in Against the Day, let's not rule out the same  
possibility in Vineland, that there's that much detail and those  
particular qualities in those details. Vineland all comes off so  
smooth and glib, it's hard to sort the B.S. out from the  
documentation. The tales of Federal Internment Camps, Rex 84,  
C.A.M.P.  & such are [unfortunately] plausible.  It's plausible that  
Musburger was installed into CBS precisely because Musburger's profile  
fit into the demographic they were seeking. They needed that  
particular market if they were going to push more razor blades,  
F-150's & beer on the breaks.

If You haven't read this yet, this is probably a good time to check it  
out. This is the most "Vineland" styled writing from Pynchon since  
Vineland:

	. . . The green light had been given to proceed with Death to
	Smoochy 2 on the strength of the first weekend grosses, as well
	as some unexpected merchandising feedback. It seemd that
	“Smoochy the Rhino” items weren’t selling nearly as well as
	those based on the evil network executive “Marion Frank
	Stokes,” played by John Stewart. This applied across the
	spectrum—mouse pads, lunchboxes, T-shirts, McDonald’s tie-
	ins (the Happy Meal being briefly eclipsed by the Anxious Meal,
	served in a takeout bag bearing Mr. Stewart’s likeness) . . .

	. . .  Options such as resurrection, identical twins, and the
	extensive use of flashbacks were entertained and discarded.
	Meanwhile the Frank Stokes Armani Edition action figure was
	outselling G.I. Joe, Darth Vader, and eventually even Barbie
	herself. Focus groups began to hint at class action suit if
	“M.F.S.”, as he had come to be known, did not appear in Death
	to Smoochy 2 . . .

http://www.themodernword.com/pynchon/pynchon_essays_dailyshow.html

On Apr 8, 2009, at 2:35 PM, Joseph Tracy wrote:
> Maybe when it came to a drama (sporting event) Prairie was more  
> interested in being the one telling/witnessing the story (narrator,  
> camera operator,TV anchor person, sports caster) than the one in the  
> drama.

Yup.

I'm gonna spit out a whole lot of words over the next 55 or so pages  
showing how Television terminology, historical references to TV and  
plots formulas from the Tube work their way into Vineland's finale.

On Apr 8, 2009, at 3:09 PM, Joseph Tracy wrote:

> He does not show us how to win . No one knows how to win. But He  
> takes sides.

Amen to that.