On the grotesque--in Gaddis?, in Pynchon...Post the 2nd

[Mark Kohut]

"The modern age questions the validity of the anthropological
and the relevance of the scientific concepts underlying the syntheses
of the 19th century. The various forms of the grotesque are the most obvious
and pronounced contradictions of any kind of rationalism and any systematic 
use of thought. It was absurd in itself when the Surrealists sought to make absurdity
the basis of their system."   ----Wolfgang Kayser

Cites Goethe on rationalism. 

Reminded of Gaddis massive dissing of rationality and Pynchon discovering surrealism..



----- Original Message -----
From: Mark Kohut <markekohut at yahoo.com>
To: pynchon -l <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Cc: 
Sent: Tuesday, August 9, 2011 9:41 AM
Subject: On the grotesque--in Gaddis?, in Pynchon...

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."