Franzen, Pynchon, Politik

[Robin Landseadel]

I think the "Political Thing" that's on Pynchon's mind right now is  
drug prohibition and the rise of the American Fascist empire. I think  
there's lots of particulars concerning those subjects on display in  
"Inherent Vice."
Pynchon has positioned himself behind a cause or two, but it's really  
not all that frequent considering. Maybe he's just a lot better at  
managing his career than most.
On Oct 27, 2010, at 6:28 AM, Kai Frederik Lorentzen wrote:

> And yes, I'd like to hear political things from Pynchon.  Not so  
> much about the world in general.
> I mean, you people have a nice saying: Opinions are like assholes.  
> Everybody's got one. So what Pynchon thinks about, say, currency  
> relations today is probably not too interesting. My interests
> go more into the direction of responsible discursive interventions  
> in relation to his art.
>
> In his novels V and GR, Thomas Pynchon artistically exploited the  
> sad history of the Hereros.
> But these people are not dead and gone! Actually they make a claim  
> for reparations against the
> German government regarding the genocide of 1904. When Joschka  
> "Arschloch" Fischer was first
> confronted with it, he didn't say a single word and simply walked  
> away. Up to now no German politician has ever said or done anything  
> about it. So let me ask:
>
> Why doesn't Pynchon use his cultural and social capital to really go  
> for the Herero's fair claim?
>
> (Don't tell me he's publicity-shy ... that was a long time ago. He  
> made a book trailer, did three
> episodes

two and a half, sorta -- the third has an animated paper bag over the  
head of the author on the dais but no dialog.

Local Fox outlet KMPH 26 broadcast "Diatribe of a Mad Housewife" last  
night.

> of The Simpsons and even - that was (when you think what he got  
> back) funny - wrote
> a defense letter for - of all people - Ian McEwan. So it's not that.)
>
> KFL

	"So, look, no offense, but what'd they pop you for anyway?"
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"Ah, usual story, they came around at the wrong time of day,
	I end up taking out half of some sheriff's unit with my two-
	cubit crossbow, firing three-quarter-inch bolts on auto
	feed. Anger, I guess.... How about you?"
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"Um, well ... it wasn't anger...."
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"Ha! Another one of these Sloth cases, right?"
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". . fact, it wasn't even me."
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"Never is, slugger -- say, look, it's almost time for lunch.
	You wouldn't happen to be a writer, by any chance?"