Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0008662, Sat, 27 Sep 2003 19:37:22 -0700

Subject
Fw: Fw: Fw: more Bernoulli links to Pale Fire. Fractals &
frac-tails.
Date
Body
----- Original Message -----
From: <tom@discobolus.co.za>
>
> ----------------- Message requiring your approval (13
lines) ------------------
> Dear Don and List...
>
> Jansy has speculated about fractals and frac-tails -- but "frac" is French
> for a dress coat, tail coat or clawhammer coat. When VN writes " -- which
> the native illusionist, frac-tails flying..." it reminds me of the white-
> tie stage performer I once saw, who used to make live doves disappear (by
> flinging them backwards between his legs into secret pockets in his frac-
> tails).
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Tom
========================================================================
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2003 19:39:03 -0700
Reply-To: Vladimir Nabokov Forum <NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU>
Sender: Vladimir Nabokov Forum <NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU>
From: "D. Barton Johnson" <chtodel@cox.net>
Subject: Fw: more Bernoulli links to Pale Fire
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EDNOTE. NABOKV-L thanks Mary Krimmel for her discriminating and =
informative note.
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Mary Krimmel=20
Message requiring your approval (29 lines) ------------------ Benoit =
Mandelbrot claims the coining of the term "fractal" for a collection of =
certain mathematical sets. He explains this in "Fractals: Form, Chance, =
and Dimension", published in 1977, a "much modified and augmented second =
version of 'Les objets fractals:'.. (1975)". No one disputes his claim.=20

The explosive interest in and development of the topic depended much on =
the development of computer technology. So VN could not have known about =
fractals when he wrote Pale Fire, first published in 1962.. Surely he =
must have known something of the name and reputation of J. Bernoulli and =
of "Math", but putting the golden rectangles into the collection of =
connotations of the lemniscate of line 137 is too much of a stretch.

The rectangles are not related to the findings about fractals - at least =
not in any but the most distant way.

Mary Krimmel

Jansy asked:

"In the Post-Script that VN added to "Lolita" he speaks about enchanters =
and he uses the word "fractails". I wonder if he could also be making a =
reference there to the modern mathematical discoveries concerning =
'fractals' ? =20
"Would those 'smaller and smaller golden rectangles' of =
Bernouilli=B4s logarithmic spiral -brought up by C. Kunin - be in any =
way related to the findings about fractals? Would VN be familiar with =
Math, Bernouilli and Fractal theory? "


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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>EDNOTE. NABOKV-L thanks Mary Krimmel =
for her=20
discriminating and informative note.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----=20
<DIV style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A=20
title=3Dmary@krimmel.net href=3D"mailto:mary@krimmel.net">Mary =
Krimmel</A>=20
</DIV></DIV>Message requiring your approval (29 lines) =
------------------ Benoit=20
Mandelbrot claims the coining of the term "fractal" for a collection of =
certain=20
mathematical sets. He explains this in "Fractals: Form, Chance, and =
Dimension",=20
published in 1977, a "much modified and augmented second version of 'Les =
objets=20
fractals:'.. (1975)". No one disputes his claim. <BR><BR>The explosive =
interest=20
in and development of the topic depended much on the development of =
computer=20
technology. So VN could not have known about fractals when he wrote Pale =
Fire,=20
first published in 1962.. Surely he must have known something of the =
name and=20
reputation of J. Bernoulli and of "Math", but putting the golden =
rectangles into=20
the collection of connotations of the lemniscate of line 137 is too much =
of a=20
stretch.<BR><BR>The rectangles are not related to the findings about =
fractals -=20
at least not in any but the most distant way.<BR><BR>Mary =
Krimmel<BR><BR>Jansy=20
asked:<BR><BR><FONT face=3Darial size=3D2>"In the Post-Script that VN =
added to=20
"Lolita" he speaks about enchanters and he uses the word =
"fractails".&nbsp; I=20
wonder if he could also be making a reference there&nbsp; to the modern=20
mathematical discoveries concerning 'fractals' ?&nbsp; =
<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
"Would those&nbsp; 'smaller and smaller golden rectangles' of =
Bernouilli=B4s=20
logarithmic spiral -brought up by C. Kunin -&nbsp; be in any way related =
to the=20
findings about fractals?&nbsp; Would VN be familiar with Math, =
Bernouilli and=20
Fractal theory? "<BR><BR></FONT></BODY></HTML>

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