Someone (else) speak on Inherent Vice..?

[Joseph Tracy]

It seems fundamental to some persons' respect for art that it be  
separated from issues of history, politics and whatever as topic or  
content they feel uncomfortably  taints or adulterates the centrality  
of the "artistry". One of the reasons I like Pynchon is that he makes  
these adulterating  forces inseparable from his artistry. They are  
key to his humor and his interpretation of history. And they are  
topics worthy of profound artistic attention.

An art that places social, political, and technological forces as the  
great influences on individual lives and seeks to undermine some of  
the largest reigning social, political, and technological myths is  
clearly interested in more than establishing his cleverness as an  
artist. His artistic vision is connected to a truth telling intent  
that includes his "pigments". If you or alice have some rich or  
richer understanding, I have seen far less of that than snide  
comments  against the thoughts of those on the p-list who actively,  
attentively and intelligently give serious attention to the texts.

It isn't that I don't appreciate the differences. Some things Keith  
and alice/Ter have said were enriching, but they often seem   
needlessly purist and Pynchon is not a purist.
On Jan 6, 2010, at 3:58 PM, Keith wrote:

> "His contribution to the novel or romance is far more important.  
> Pynchon
> politics are only of interest because of how he says what he  
> says . . ."
>
> Amen to that. And his art often says what it says so masterfully,
> reducing it to the content or the political point behind the artistic
> presentation defeats the artistic purpose of his having put the
> effort into saying it artistically. He uses politics, religion, etc  
> etc
> as pigments. Pointing out the colors he's using is a waste of time.
> Yeah, that's blue, that's red, that's green. Whatever. Look at the
> brilliance used to create beauty and transcendence with those colors.
>
> Next up on iPod shuffle play:
>
>> From Mirror Man Act 2 by David Thomas and The Pale Orchestra: 'Bay  
>> City'