hypertext poem, sorta

[Mark Kohut]

Later, in this very book, we will get Pynchon asking about the reality
obscured by the word, the names.

On Sun, May 29, 2016 at 5:20 PM, Joseph Tracy <brook7 at sover.net> wrote:

> Totally correct, point taken.  Though the Buddhists do seema bit less
> inclined to warfare over these things. Anyway, correct that to the human
> obsession with text. I think I remember Feinman talking about a converstion
> with his Father where the Father gives the Latin name for a bird and then
> says something to the effect that that has nothing to do with science,
> nothing to do with understanding birds or this specific bird.
>
> > On May 29, 2016, at 1:19 PM, Monte Davis <montedavis49 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > JT > the  western obsession with text
> > Not to be confused, surely, with
> >
> > "[In Vedic chants,] The various pathas or recitation styles are designed
> to allow the complete and perfect memorization of the text and its
> pronunciation..."
> >
> > "Memorization of the sutras and their commentaries is a standard
> monastic practice in all Buddhist countries..."
> >
> > "Hafiz, literally meaning "guardian" or "memorizer," depending on the
> context, is a term used by Muslims for someone who has completely memorized
> the Qur'an..."
> >
> >
> > On Sun, May 29, 2016 at 12:39 PM, Joseph Tracy <brook7 at sover.net> wrote:
> > Before hypertext: Strong’s Bible Concordance-Look up any word; find
> every instance of use in Bible. Could be a model for Thomas Ruggles
> Pynchon’s web of word play before digital hypertext. That and
> Encyclopediativeness.
> > Word jazz ensues.
> >  Strong’s is an example of both the  western obsession with text and an
> example of the illusiveness, allusiveness, inclusiveness and delusiveness
> intrinsic to language. It comes out of the western history of Biblical
> authoritative text as a revolutionary force, directly connected to the
> press as a revolutionary force,  leading first to the reformation then to
> capitalism, Shakespeare, Jefferson, overthrow of monarchy, enlightenment,
> Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Lady Chatterly’s Lover, Das Kapital, I have a Dream…
> >
> > What do the words mean? Is there a true and pure  language which is the
> machinery of God ordering all things aright? Will mathematics work?
> Missile guidance? Precision of sacrificial blood? Access to all the data?
> The true history of the known and unknown universes? It’s a poser what with
> them squelchy, slippery words, them fluttering birds crossing borders like
> Mexicans with private airplanes, them stock options, refrigerators,
> figidity,  fiery flowers becoming fruit becoming fruit salad, becoming eyes
> ablaze with wonder, becoming shit, becoming dirt with thousands of microbes
> per teaspoon, becoming wet seedy birthplace of new green shoots, and we as
> recyclable as
> >
> > any other droppings, leavings, beatings, flutterings,  words.-
> > Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?listpynchon-l
> >
>
> -
> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?listpynchon-l
>
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