On the grotesque--in Gaddis?, in Pynchon...

[Mark Kohut]

I browse-read an old classic I found called The Grotesque in
Art & Literature by Wolfgang Kayser. (1957---English 1963.) Fun, insightful historical 'criticism'
 
but for our purposes the simplistic takeaway is this: the author finds
the 'grotesque'---irreal exaggeration for thematic effect; thematic NECESSITY even---
in three major periods in history AND related to the artists' having to 
 
"INVOKE AND SUBDUE THE DEMONIC ASPECTS OF THE WORLD". (his caps)
 
One period is, of course, the 20th Century.. ..perhaps 'consciously opposed to the
rationalistic world view developed during the Enlightenment; ...even questioning the 
legitimacy of the rationale for such a world view."