Re: IVIV: chapter seven—Eel Trovatore

[Mark Kohut]

JT writes:
the ecological assault on the planet. 

from the oil-carrying ships in the opening chapters, yes, I think TRP--in the tradition of ecological destruction most explored by Ross and John McDonald in P.I. mysteries---puts this in IV...

--- On Wed, 9/23/09, Joseph Tracy <brook7 at sover.net> wrote:

> From: Joseph Tracy <brook7 at sover.net>
> Subject: Re: IVIV: chapter seven—Eel Trovatore
> To: pynchon-l at waste.org
> Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2009, 3:56 PM
> 
> On Sep 23, 2009, at 1:13 PM, Ray Easton wrote:
> 
> > Robin Landseadel wrote:
> >> What appalls me about these critics is that they
> are placing themselves above the author
> > 
> > Any new work by a great writer deserves serious and
> thoughtful consideration.  A "good reader" should
> strive to understand the work on its own terms, rather than
> immediately rejecting it because he cannot "connect to" or
> comprehend it.  A "good reader" should indeed suspend
> judgment, but does not mean that he should simply abandon
> judgment altogether.  If it's a bad thing to place
> oneself above the author, it is equally certain that it's a
> bad thing to place oneself below the author, and is a sort
> of idolatry that seems particularly inappropriate when
> applied to a writer with TRP's (apparent) views.
> > 
> > Ray
> > /
> > /
> I agree that idolatry is inappropriate but if an author has
> gained a reader's respect and if the critical and popular
> response and understanding has frequently lagged behind the
> publication of the work, then a bit more care is in
> order.  As Picasso or some smartass said, the good art
> judges us. I do agree with Robin that placing yourself as a
> book critic above Pynchon is careless and often appalling.
> It reminds me of young music critics writing about Dylan as
> though he needed their approval and they have a few good
> pointers for him. It just sounds stupid.
> 
> By the way, back to the Eel Travatore,  I just read a
> chapter on detoxification in a book called Diet for a
> Poisoned Planet.  The author grew up fishing and eating
> fish off Santa Monica until he read a study in the 80s
> showing LA fish eaters had highly elevated levels of DDT and
> PCB's in their blood. The author had himself tested and was
> in the same boat . So the waitress Chlorinda was offering a
> sound warning that informed L.A. readers may take more
> literally than metaphorically. ( Detox involves 
> niacin, utraviolet and sauna which the globe is abou to
> try)
> 
> I  think Pynchon is exploring the collective tribal
> roots of the ecological assault on the planet. What draws
> people into these nasty arrangements?, where will resistance
> come from?
> Modern  Tribes-    cops
>            
>     military
>            
>     stewardii and Jet Setters
>            
>     surfers ( I would extend this to
> climbers, hikers, sailors, kayakers, environmentalists)
>            
>     stoners ( which concludes the 3 s es)
>            
>     dentists( god knows what this stands for
> but extreme interrogation comes to mind)
>            
>     musicians
>            
>     realtors
>            
>     insurance and banking
>            
>     bikers and thugs for hire
>            
>     spies and agents
>            
>     lawyers
> On board were the 12: cops and stewardii, stoners bankers
> and realtors. They were the Gods of yore though Gods they
> were...
> Way down, way doooooown Below the Ocean, Where I want to be
> and she made me.
> 
>