CoL49 (1) The Automobile Graveyard

[Robin Landseadel]

On May 5, 2009, at 8:52 AM, Robert Mahnke wrote:

> This is neat stuff, Robin.  I'm curious: Is there a textual basis to  
> suggest that "The Automobile Graveyard" was a source or inspiration,  
> rather than the something more like coincidence or convergent  
> evolution?

I would point to the character of Jesus Arrabal as a textual indicator  
of Arrabal's influence. Remember:

	". . .Another influence in "Under the Rose," too recent for me
	then to abuse to the extent I have done since, is Surrealism. . ."
	SL, 20

&

	. . .The Panic Movement performed theatrical events
	designed to be shocking, as a response to surrealism
	becoming petite bourgeoisie and to release destructive
	energies in search of peace and beauty . . .
	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_Movement

Pynchon lets us know that he was influenced in his earlier work by  
Surrealism & Arrabal was one of the most extreme proponents of  
Surrealism. While this is conjecture, it's conjecture based on a  
trainload of evidence—if this was simply convergent evolution then the  
character of Jesus Arrabal would not have appeared in CoL49. Even more  
important than the probable influence of Arrabal on Pynchon are the  
omnipresent themes of Surrealism and Theater of Cruelty in CoL49.