TRTR Discuss using the deep art metaphor in The Recognitions

[Paul Mackin]

On 9/18/2011 9:54 AM, Mark Kohut wrote:
> The prominent literary critic Marjorie Perloff has recently begun 
> using the term "unoriginal genius" to describe this tendency emerging 
> in literature.
>                                      ----  from a long essay in Chron 
> icle of Higher Education

Using other people's words, as Gaddis seems to do more frequently than 
most, has a double effect on the reader (at least this one).

There's the pleasure of recognition, which is positive, but there is 
also the recognition that both the reader and the author are engaging in 
a display of their learning that is a bit unsavory.

This double recognition reminds me of Groucho, who wouldn't want to 
belong to any club that would have him as a member.

We are repelled by people who are too much like us.

> Often when we think Shakespeare is being original, he is actually 
> voicing the commonplace thoughts of his age.
>                                        ----Soul of An Age, J. 
> Bate..............

This is rather hard to give much credence to.

P
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