Subject
Johnson-Wendel: "Time & Ebb"
Date
Body
Re: the Wendel/Johnson affair
I feel pressed, first of all, to defend warm beer.
Second, I do not think that R. Johnson's description of "Time & Ebb" as
something less than a story was an "attack" on VN's ability or an attempt to
preclude anyone from enjoying it as a story; rather I interpreted it as the
necessary distinction to make considering his larger point, which was that
"T&E" is more concerned with verbal gymnastics than with narrative. Whether
or not it is a "story" is less important (when discussing R. Johnson's work)
than asking if he is right about the linguistic linkages to *Ada* or *LATH*
and if they wear down a reader. Here is where I part paths with Dr.
Johnson, but this may only be a question of personal aesthetics.
Third, I am most baffled by the claim that, because we are among friends --
and I do hope we are -- that words like "misogyny" should be left to Erica
Jong. Why on earth? If there is misogyny in VN, isn't this perfect place
to discuss it? I don't remember getting a message when I signed on that
said "Only _nice_ things posted from this point!" This isn't a fan club
(right?) -- it's a critical forum, and that means pointing to all aspects of
VN's work, shouldn't it?
Let me throw in at this stage IMHO, and all those other things people say
when they don't want to be moralistic or make their ad hominem too direct,
and I'll gracefully exit the stage.
Dustin C. Pascoe
University of Kentucky
"If the misery of our poor be caused not by the laws of nature, but by our
institutions, great is our sin." -- Darwin
I feel pressed, first of all, to defend warm beer.
Second, I do not think that R. Johnson's description of "Time & Ebb" as
something less than a story was an "attack" on VN's ability or an attempt to
preclude anyone from enjoying it as a story; rather I interpreted it as the
necessary distinction to make considering his larger point, which was that
"T&E" is more concerned with verbal gymnastics than with narrative. Whether
or not it is a "story" is less important (when discussing R. Johnson's work)
than asking if he is right about the linguistic linkages to *Ada* or *LATH*
and if they wear down a reader. Here is where I part paths with Dr.
Johnson, but this may only be a question of personal aesthetics.
Third, I am most baffled by the claim that, because we are among friends --
and I do hope we are -- that words like "misogyny" should be left to Erica
Jong. Why on earth? If there is misogyny in VN, isn't this perfect place
to discuss it? I don't remember getting a message when I signed on that
said "Only _nice_ things posted from this point!" This isn't a fan club
(right?) -- it's a critical forum, and that means pointing to all aspects of
VN's work, shouldn't it?
Let me throw in at this stage IMHO, and all those other things people say
when they don't want to be moralistic or make their ad hominem too direct,
and I'll gracefully exit the stage.
Dustin C. Pascoe
University of Kentucky
"If the misery of our poor be caused not by the laws of nature, but by our
institutions, great is our sin." -- Darwin