And to push the literalisms one step farther, the transatlantic slave trade is still thought of in terms of it's triangular route...
Excited to read on alongside your work, the abstract/concrete distinction seems like a great basis from which to operate especially since so much of how land is mapped/divided/politicized is tied up in a confusing mess of "natural" borders and borders that are wholly fictional (ie. demarcating place X as place X and place Y as place Y either because there's a river between them or simply because that is where the line is for no physical reason).
Absolutely with the slave trade. So many possible ways to apply this.
One of the things that stuck with my on my recent reread of M&D is that border between abstract/concrete especially in regard to Mason's internal turmoil with these ideas. I also think it's such a massive theme in all Pynchon. He's one of the few authors who can go from presenting ideas of our own material existence and oppression and then move onto something such as the consciousness of trees and stones to show how these abstract methods of control harm our earth as much as us. Layers on layers of abstraction.
Thanks! I’ve always found his dedications add a little something. Whether or not it’s intended, it shows where his mind is grounded at the time of writing and publication.
And to push the literalisms one step farther, the transatlantic slave trade is still thought of in terms of it's triangular route...
Excited to read on alongside your work, the abstract/concrete distinction seems like a great basis from which to operate especially since so much of how land is mapped/divided/politicized is tied up in a confusing mess of "natural" borders and borders that are wholly fictional (ie. demarcating place X as place X and place Y as place Y either because there's a river between them or simply because that is where the line is for no physical reason).
Absolutely with the slave trade. So many possible ways to apply this.
One of the things that stuck with my on my recent reread of M&D is that border between abstract/concrete especially in regard to Mason's internal turmoil with these ideas. I also think it's such a massive theme in all Pynchon. He's one of the few authors who can go from presenting ideas of our own material existence and oppression and then move onto something such as the consciousness of trees and stones to show how these abstract methods of control harm our earth as much as us. Layers on layers of abstraction.
Really good work. I like that part about the dedication because I never considered it before and it makes a lot of sense.
Thanks! I’ve always found his dedications add a little something. Whether or not it’s intended, it shows where his mind is grounded at the time of writing and publication.
great writeup! need to finally read M&D, only gotten around to V, Lot 49, Grainbow, IV, and Bleeding Edge