TRTR(I.3) Hidden Profits [Epigraph]

[Mark Kohut]

Well, I do not think I am ever going to believe that (most great) art isn't
good at morality....to go deep, deep into life is to be moral, human-centered,
often beyond good and evil, etc., etc. but deeply moral----although often
so hard to 'get' and often-----infused with the writer's 'original' [sic] 
insights. 


But, to write moralistically, as with Rand and many, many others..is
not to write art..................



----- Original Message ----
From: David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com>
To: Paul Mackin <mackin.paul at verizon.net>
Cc: Erik T. Burns <eburns at gmail.com>; "pynchon-l at waste.org" 
<pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Fri, April 29, 2011 7:10:38 PM
Subject: Re: TRTR(I.3) Hidden Profits [Epigraph]

Characters have attitudes, as do authors. Behavior isn't the issue.
Art isn't good at morality, but is at confrontation, but only if
self-aware. Think Ayn Rand- no sense of humor, or awareness of her own
foibles.

Gaddis has a penchant for micro vignettes that invite quick
judgements. He wants us to be judgmental. Not that he's being serious,
but jokes have roots in sincerity.

David Morris

On Friday, April 29, 2011, Paul Mackin <mackin.paul at verizon.net> wrote:
> On 4/29/2011 4:55 PM, Erik T. Burns wrote:
>
> Even a symptom in us all...
>
> which the better educated among us have learned to suppress.  But which group 
>is more authentic?
>
> In real life the educated approach seems to be the better way.  To put it 
>mildly.
>
> In books it's better to let all hang out.
>
> P
>
>
>
>
> On 29/04/2011, at 21:00, Richard Ryan<himself at richardryan.com>  wrote:
>
>
> The homophobia in Gaddis may be like the misogyny in Pynchon; partly a
> symptom of the times, partly a symptom in the author.
>
> On Fri, Apr 29, 2011 at 2:40 PM, Paul Mackin<mackin.paul at verizon.net>  wrote:
>
> On 4/29/2011 1:46 PM, David Morris wrote:
>
> It was the overly-stereotypical dialogue of the various members of the
> NYC (what I call) Whole Sick Crew that put me off last time I read TR.
>   It's got to be satire, but not necessarily friendly satire.  It seems
> very likely to me that V's Whole Sick Crew was inspired by this one in
> TR.  And TRP's depiction of homosexuality in GR isn't too friendly
> either.  I think men in their eras were a lot less at ease with
> homosexuality in general
>
>
> Is it a good idea, though, to judge art (in this case literary writing) on
> the basis of fairness to minorities, or majorities for that matter?
>
> 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
>
>
>
>
>
> 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
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Richard Ryan
> New York and the World
> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
> Thanks to all who saw VTM's new production!
> "Brilliant!";"Superb!" - NYTheatre-wire.com
> www.kingstheplay.com
>
>
>