M&D Deep Duck 4-6: Line-Crossing Ceremony

[kelber at mindspring.com]

There's tons of info on the 'net about the line-crossing ceremony, past and present, along with YouTube footage of some of the more toned-down ceremonies.

Cherrycoke's description of the ceremony to his audience seems in keeping with the general practices. Is Pynchon trying to suggest something more humiliating by the Spotted Dick reference, or is that name just too good to pass up. Is there a Disgusting English Candy that recreates the experience of eating Spotted Dick, stale raisins and all?

Here's a paper on gender and sexuality as portrayed in the line-crossing ceremonies of the US Navy, written in 2003, during the "don't ask, don't tell" period.

" … it's only queer if you're tied to the pier."

http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1071&context=djglp

Laura

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Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l