GR translation: White Visitation

[alice wellintown]

There is evidence that, as Methodism became more established, there
was increasing awareness of architectural dignity and proportion. As a
consequence, the simple vernacular forms gave way to buildings in the
classical tradition, especially in urban areas. Such an example is
Walcot, Bath (illustrated further down this page) designed by the Revd
William Jenkins and which opened in 1815.

Towards the middle of the 19th century the issue of an appropriate
style for Methodist architecture arose. In a series of papers
advocating a preference for the Gothic style, the Revd Frederick
Jobson (who trained as an architect) argued for beauty and perfection
in design and execution without unnecessary adornment (see Recommended
Reading below). His papers were presented to and adopted by the
Methodist Conference, the governing body of Methodism. The influence
of his writings was such that Gothic became the predominant style,
particularly within Wesleyan Methodism. A typical building of this era
is Altarnun, Cornwall, 1854.

http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/methodistarch/methodistarch.htm

On Sun, Jun 26, 2011 at 2:04 PM, Paul Mackin <mackin.paul at verizon.net> wrote:
> On 6/26/2011 9:42 AM, kelber at mindspring.com wrote:
>>
>> The mental hospital/nut job connotation, while there, isn't the primary
>> meaning of the phrase.  It's there, but it's unlikely that the first image
>> that would enter a reasonably well-read person's mind is that of a mental
>> hospital.  The primary connotation (I think) is the suggestion of a visit
>> from the Virgin Mary (possibly the original historical meaning of the name
>> of the then-hospital) with the ironic twist that any visitors to the current
>> incarnation of the place are likely to be supernatural but non-religious
>> (and therefore un-Christian).  I agree that Paul's approach (a non-literal
>> translation of the name) is the best.  So perhaps something that evokes an
>> ironic interaction of the Christian versus the non-Christian?
>
> Yes, balance between the two seems definitely needed.
>
> On the religious side of the equation "The White Visitation"  suggests to
> me, in addition to "The Visitation" of Luke's gospel,  the way devoted nuns
> in white habits (I see Deborah Kerr) might go about tending to (visiting)
> the sick in their rooms. I even see them carrying lanterns, or candles in
> bygone days, in the darkened wards, which brings in the ghostly aspect of it
> all.
>
> Oddly, perhaps,  Pynchon does not get around to giving us much of a physical
> description of the place until the final paragraph of the section.  The
> eccentricities of the place are many.  And quite nutty.  It is said that the
> place might almost have been built as a Folly.  Folly is close to the word
> folle as in La Cage aux Folles.  Crazy in other words.
>
> Certain religious features are also described, though strangely, perhaps,
> they are Methodist rather than Anglican or R.C.
>
> P.
>>
>> Laura
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>>>
>>> From: Paul Mackin<mackin.paul at verizon.net>
>>> Sent: Jun 26, 2011 7:11 AM
>>> To: pynchon-l at waste.org
>>> Subject: Re: GR translation: White Visitation
>>>
>>> Mike
>>>
>>> I had a thought during the night.
>>>
>>> Is there a comical phrase in Chinese that means roughly what we mean in
>>> the U.S. (and maybe Britain too) when we say "the men in the white coats
>>> are coming to get you."  It means you're alarmingly psychotic and have
>>> to be institutionalized.  That's the image I think I receive when I hear
>>> "The White Visitation" in the context of what's going on in GR.  The
>>> place formerly, in now sadly gone peacetime,  housed mental patients.
>>> Now it houses another groups of nuts who are trying every possible
>>> scheme they can think of to help win the war. Could you think up a place
>>> name that would be suggestive of that?
>>>
>>> I do also hear the religious, devotional overtones of a care-giving
>>> facility (like St. Verionica's) so if that could be worked in, all the
>>> better.
>>>
>>> P
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>