The Wrecked Read. Chap 1 simple summary

Paul Mackin mackin.paul at verizon.net
Tue Apr 19 16:43:09 CDT 2011


On 4/19/2011 4:56 PM, David Morris wrote:
> "potency"
>
> On Tue, Apr 19, 2011 at 3:55 PM, David Morris<fqmorris at gmail.com>  wrote:
>> In the first chapter the imitating/reusing of magic into mysticism
>> into religion is portrayed as a downward trend, losing petency with
>> each round.

Yes, this is the central idea everyone talks about. I'm interested in 
how the gospel of authenticity can  fall apart.

Gaddis' apparent aversion for "the counterfeit" badly needs 
deconstructing.  And gets it.

Originality and authenticity in the novel can be truly ugly. The 
Americans in Europe were authentic as all get out.  They never heard 
that  when in Rome do as the Romans.  American's trying to absorb some 
European culture would be a form of copying, imitating.  A good form. 
Also learning the language might have saved Stanley.  At least how to 
read signs.

Copying and reusing is GOOD

P




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