Manson Cult; was Golden Fang

[Bekah]

First,  I think the Manson murders are frequently referenced in IV is  
because media coverage and gossip/talk were so much a part of  
setting,  LA and nation,  at the time.

The LA Times,  and other papers as well as the network news sources  
were full of the murders,  investigation and trials on a daily basis  
from August 1969 to April, 1971  and beyond,  even unto today.      
Actually, IV takes place directly in middle of that period,   Manson  
and company were in jail and awaiting trial (pre-trial stuff?) .    I  
think if TPR did any research to refresh his memory he came up with  
Manson, Manson,  Manson in all the papers and old TV news footage.    
And I think just realistically,  that's what the cops, detectives,   
street people etc.  would talk about.   Actually, there was talk that  
Manson didn't get fair trial in LA because of the publicity,  but the  
fact is that the media coverage was nation-wide.

Re GR,  I don't think that the events of the Holocaust were so well  
known during the time and place of GR (by Slothrop and company) - they  
became very, very well known later.

Manson was about 35 years old when the murders occurred.   How old is  
Doc?  About 30?  (Don't trust anyone over 30.)

Second,   and I'm not so sure about this part,   I think there's are a  
couple themes to be explored regarding Manson.   There's the "inherent  
vice" of US society and what it will make people into - especially  
relating to the US as a whole and to Manson as a primo example.  And  
there's the related idea of the ending of the
American Hippie Dream - peace and freedom.

Also reminds me of the old adage,  "The next time you're in trouble,  
call a hippie."  This  was said by straights but the thougth gets a  
new twist from Pynchon -   (Very trite - I know - but someone had to  
say it.)

Bekah


On Sep 26, 2009, at 1:52 PM, David Morris wrote:

> Has anyone noticed how often the Manson murders have been referenced
> in IV?  Isn't this contrary to his usual absence of the huge elephant?
> Holocaust in GR?...
>
> The Manson Murders in IV have been pushed to the front in IV many
> times without any obvious story-relevance.
>
> Just sayin...

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