TRTR(I.3) Hidden Profits [Epigraph]

[Mark Kohut]

Paul Mackin writes:
In discussions of TR the word authenticity is often in the fore.  Mark alluded 
to Trilling's Sincerity and Authenticity.  It's more than just that art isn't 
meant to teach good behavior.  It's that art itself is not good behavior.  In 
fact it is almost certainly bad behavior.  (in a manner of speaking) Bad 
behavior can hurt.

The good news is we can appreciate it without having to act it out.  Or bring it 
home to the children.

In life it's a good idea not to be too authentic.

That's  the way I see it.  (not everyone does)

P

I may easily be distorting half-digested Trilling, but what I was reaching 
for---way out there in specualtion so far to me----was that
1) Authenticity---of Being, of characters in much fiction, esp modern 
fiction, since the concepts may have been less problematic in 

earlier novels , was many writers' attempts to root meaning (via character) in 
what they felt was authentic in life..

2) And in TR, I have been struggling to see what---if---I can sense Gaddis 
giving us glimpses of what he might feel is authentic
in life peeking out from the satiric savaging......

I do share Paul's belief that art is not meant to teach us 'good behavior' and 
if we smell/see that, we have bad non-art....
but we may differ in that I do think satire works because of some 
(semi-invisible) ideals against which the characters 

largely fail but we can come to know those ideals (maybe in part)....





> David Morris
> 
> On Fri, Apr 29, 2011 at 12:37 PM, rich<richard.romeo at gmail.com>  wrote:
>> if only to play up those who aren't what they seem. if memory serves,
>> The Swede is married but is a flamer
>> 
>> but it's so clearly satirical--it doesn't seem malicious on gaddis' part (i.e. 
>>its what these people do that Gaddis mocks not who they are) at least thats how 
>>I see it