Against the Day and fictitiousness

[Mark Kohut]

On bullshit in America: "the Chicago Fair, as the great national celebration [it WAS that] possessed the exact degree
of fictitiousness to permit the boys access and agency." p. 36 
 
Pretty clear merging of irreal adventure fiction with irreal American self-celebration.
 
Leaving groundedness as the counterweight: Reality as it can be seen. The edges of the Exhibition where the marginal are,
etc. The crowd on page 49....tired women 'bearing the insults of the day"....etc. 
 
Ray Ipsow, whose name means 'the thing itself' in Latin is another grounding figure against the guy he assists, ole Prof Vanderjuice.
Ray who says straightforwardly to Vibe: anyone who looks around would see that socialism is right. "As anyone not insulated by
wealth from the cares of the day is obliged to be, sir." p.32
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