The Anonymous and TP

[Kai Frederik Lorentzen]

On 11.02.2011 10:12, Cissell wrote:

> Sir,
>


Was willst du?


>      Your answer to the rhetorical question that I used to introduce my subject
> seemed curt and dismissive. First, the rhetorical question (Die Rhetorische
> Frage ist eine Frageform, die keine Antwort erwartet.) was not the main point of
> the post, so why even bother with it?


Because it was so stupid.


>   Moreover, if you're not interested, then
> why say anything?


I am interested in the issue.


> (By the way, in literary studies scholars often take note of what the
> author has read. You may think it misguided but it is a widespread practice.)


Oh, really? I was already into the sociology of literature when you 
still thought Bourdieu to be
some Belgian cheese ...


>   Additionally, the use of embargoes on
> TP's novels since Vineland seems more an attempt to check the critics than to
> create an air of mystery.


Is that the case? Most relevant critics have their review-copies anyway. 
And why is the embargo restricted to North America? Do not economists 
call this "künstliche Angebotsverknappung"?
'Evil' malevolent critics could travel to Alteuropa anyway and buy the 
book twelve days before
it appears on the US market. More than enough time, don't you think?


> Publishers do do things to increase demand, but TP has
> a very solid readership and really has no need to try to reach a wider audience.


I guess that's why he's doing a book trailer with his own voice, plays 
his part to bring "Inherent Vice"
onto the screen, allows people to sell coffee with a brand-name from his 
artistic production, writes bad
blurbs for bad books usw usf ...  I mean, our author is not seen as hip 
anymore as he still was a couple of years ago. Likely some 
'quotation-index' could show.


>      A couple more points. First, "hamster teeth"? Was ist los? I don't idolize
> TP&   I don't think people should rever him, but what about some common decency?
> Do you think that comment is cute? Is it in any way constructive?


Yes, of course it is. Pynchon's first published texts come from his 
High-School paper. Now check out
the name Tom chose for his column. Then think a little bit about the 
dentist-leitmotif in TRP's work!


>  I would consider myself very fortunate to make TP's acquaintance



That's what keeps me so concerned ...

KFL