TRTR(I.7) Inherent Vice

[Paul Mackin]

On 6/9/2011 11:54 AM, Michael Bailey wrote:
>   Jed Kelestron  wrote:
>> Let it be clear that no one insures against inherent vice.
>>
> (and no-one expects the Spanish Inquisition!)
>
> but seriously, it occurs 4 times in the context of saying that no one
> insures against it.
>
> and that's part of how this Basil Valentine establishes himself as a
> kind of authority although I'm thinking that in criminal terms, Brown
> suborns forgery and BV is a fence?
>
> which still earns him some grudging respect (along with the wish that
> his powers were used for good) - like you respect a cat burglar, it
> takes a lot of skill and so forth
>
> which may be his rationalization for his criminal ways, as well as a
> demonstration of the knowledge he needs for some of the aspects of
> plying his trade - there's probably an angle to be worked in the fact
> that nobody insures against inherent vice?
>
Recktall Brown is Gaddis' portrayal of the dark side of authenticity.

I mean in the sense that the opinion of other people means nothing to him.

He won't even respond when Basil asks him a question.

Who knows where he will end up when he dies, but here on earth he has 
escaped the hell of other people.

Pure authenticity is another of those things no insurance company would 
write a policy on.

P