Gravity's Rainbow in depth on Studio 360

[Paul Mackin]

On 3/9/2012 9:22 AM, David Morris wrote:
> Read the whole post.
>
> http://waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l&month=0006&msg=46451&keywords=Dali%20Morris
>


Good post and incoming.


  "As a general statement I know this sounds trite, but part of GR's 
"mission"
> seems to be the laying bare of these terms "paranoia," "pornography," and
> "delusions" as the universal condition, thus exposing the strengths and
> weaknesses of the human-mind's creative/perceptive abilities (I guess
this
> is part of what makes him PoMo).  Yet, rather than collapsing into a
> self-centered mindlessness or despair, he continues to seek out "Truth &
> Justice, and the American Way," plumbing the depths of the condition in
> search of a balance.  In this regard I would agree with Jane that
Pynchon's
> writings are inherently "religious.""


Pynchon's method seems to be take delusion/paranoia, and pornography 
too, and move them from sideshow status (which we still hope they are, 
even in our deranged modern world) and put them in the main ring, 
relegating most of the rest to the role of added attraction.

To pynchonize is to start with a reality, sometimes meticulously 
researched, and subject it to an ingenious kind of rearrangement, taking 
an arguably important part of life on earth and elevating it to the 
whole show, or the main part of the show.

Such rearrangement is done to serve the Pyncher's purposes, which of 
course are subject to endless speculation.

Take Katje's thought--that War is mainly about buying and selling. Well, 
war does involve an abundance of buying and selling, often of the most 
despicable kind. This is the part of War Katje experiences most. War has 
been pynchonized, to very good effect, moral effect no doubt.


A pynchonized world ought to seem like a world of futility, without 
hope. Yet I don't think that is the way readers experience it. Why? may 
be a mystery. I think it's the comic twist put on virtually everything. 
Where there's laughter there is hope. And that hope is the universal 
one--for Salvation.  Whether there is any or not may be beside the point.

P