GR translation: White Visitation

[Mark Kohut]

As Pynchon the poetic writer can do: Seven---eight here?---Types of Ambiguity, 
meaning Resonances....



----- Original Message ----
From: Paul Mackin <mackin.paul at verizon.net>
To: David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com>; pynchon-l at waste.org
Sent: Sat, June 25, 2011 2:49:29 PM
Subject: Re: GR translation: White Visitation

On 6/25/2011 12:02 PM, David Morris wrote:
> #4 is too specific for a place dedicated to all things para&  meta.

Well, if it had been "The Black Visitation" I'd be inclined to associate 
the name with trying to scare the Germans with the Schwatzcommando, 
which seems to be the most promising bit of psychological warfare  on 
the table.

It's true there are the spiritualists at work but they don't seems as 
important as say Black Wing or Slothrop's conditioning. The really fun 
spiritualism takes place at Snoxalls with Roger and Jessica in attendance.

What probably sways me is the existence of the "sister" institution in 
London with the similarly very very Catholic name--St Veronica's 
Hospital of the True Image, etc, etc.

It seems to me than any or all eight of the definitions can be made to 
fit if one tries. Visiting the sick is a corporal work of mercy.  
Inspectors make visitations to institutions to see if they meet 
standards. Etc., etc.

But who's to say.  Seems to me a perfect translation (no such thing of 
course) would reflect it all.

P
> "White" is a nod to the "obscure," as in shrouded, and has faint Moby
> Dick's white whale overtones.
>
> On Saturday, June 25, 2011, Paul Mackin<mackin.paul at verizon.net>  wrote
>>
>>      On 6/25/2011 2:45 AM, Mike Jing wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>          What is the most probable meaning of the word "visitation" in
>>          the name "White Visitation"?
>>
>>          1. the act<http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/act>  of 
>>visiting<http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/visit>.
>>          2. a formal visit<http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/visit>,  as 
>>one permitted by a court's granting of visitation
>>                
>>rights<http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/visitation+rights>    or by 
>>parents invited to a school to observe 
>>the<http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/the>  work of students.
>>
>>
>>          3. a visit<http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/visit>
>>              for the purpose of making
>>            an official examination or inspection, as of
>>            a bishop to a
>>            diocese.
>>
>>
>>          EXPAND
>>
>>            4. ( usually
>>                    initial
>>                    capital
>>                    letter
>>                  ) the
>>              visit<http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/visit>
>>                of the Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. Luke 1:36–56.
>>              <
>>      #4 is probably correct as the primary meaning but there are no doubt
>>      many overtones, which is where #8 would come in.
>>
>>      In Christian countries  religious, charitable, educational, or care
>>      giving institutions fairly often have the word visitation in them.
>>
>>      p
>>
>>
>>