V-2nd. Grasping for oeuvre continuity

[Mark Kohut]

I might actually argue that in V., during the peacetime 50s, the luxury liner in Newport News might be suggesting that
the navy, the military, made the possibility of citizens on a luxury liner possible. Ship docks in this longtime naval port.

In AtD, I think TRP is certainly suggesting the military-industrial complex and even that the bourgeoisie's comfort
has this other side: sustained by war...



----- Original Message ----
From: "kelber at mindspring.com" <kelber at mindspring.com>
To: pynchon-l at waste.org
Sent: Sun, June 20, 2010 4:51:20 PM
Subject: Re: V-2nd. Grasping for oeuvre continuity

In ATD, the luxury liner that quickly converts to a military ship seems an obvious reference to the military-industrial complex.  In V., though, it's not clear that this later obsession of Pynchon's is present, at least in a fully developed form.  Something to look for throughout this read.  

So the navy party on a luxury liner comes across as more of a cute detail rather than an oblique reference.  I totally stand to be corrected on this, by the way.

Laura

-----Original Message-----
>From: kelber at mindspring.com
>Sent: Jun 20, 2010 4:41 PM
>To: pynchon-l at waste.org
>Subject: Re: V-2nd. Grasping for oeuvre continuity
>
>Searching for "Squaducci" leads to either quotes from V. or, farther down the list, the phrase squadGucci, which I doubt Pynchon had in mind.  Squaducci sounds a little like "skidoo."  The phrase was originally "23 skidoo, and it means "to scram."  So it could be an Italianized version of skidoo (a good name for a ship and a better name for anyplace Pig Bodine's throwing a party).  
>
>Susanna Squaducci also resembles (very vaguely) "Susie Q," the name of a song that was #27 on the pop charts in 1957.
>
>Any Italian-speakers know of any Italian cognates?
>
>Throwing the party on a luxury liner instead of a navy dive bar?  Just decky-dance, or maybe an (unsuccessful) attempt to avoid the Shore Patrol.
>
>Laura
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Mark Kohut <markekohut at yahoo.com>
>>Sent: Jun 20, 2010 3:36 PM
>>To: pynchon -l <pynchon-l at waste.org>
>>Subject: V-2nd. Grasping for oeuvre continuity
>>
>>Pig decides on the Susanna Squaducci, an Italina luxury liner, for his reunion party.
>>
>>The first time a commercial liner for the rich is linked with a military base, but not the 
>>last as we remember the Stupendica and its turncoat, so to speak, ability in AtD.
>>
>>Thoughts one and all?
>>
>>
>>      
>