Re: neofascist Pynchon readers, Playboy Japan

>From: Doug Millison

>To: [email protected]

>Subject: neofascist Pynchon readers, Playboy Japan

>Date: Sat, 22 Jun 2002 16:01:56 -0700

>

>"Michael Kenny"

> >But then we can't evaluate the merits of your claims.

>

>Sure you can. Look at what gets posted on Pynchon-L and characterize it the

>best way you think fits,

I can certainly form my opinions about what I think are people's political leanings. I wonder what people on the list would think of your thoughts on their political leanings. If you don't say, they can't address it. It's your call. I thought it would make for interesting conversation.

> the posts are all in the archives if you miss them

>streaming by. There's been no end to pro-Bush, pro-war in Afghanistan,

>pro-global capital posts in this forum, many of which contain views that

>could easily be located within neoconservative, right-wing or neo-fascist

>political perspectives.

I don't doubt it except for neo-fascist. Is a neo-fascist Hitler II or George Bush II?

>Le Pen is a good example of a contemporary neofascist, there are many

>others.

So someone who is anti-immigration and anti-free-trade? Are there other important factors? That's the limit of my knowledge of Le Pen. Keep in mind I don't mean free trade in the contorted sense of pro-big-business.

>I would evaluate so-called "mainstream" politicians based on the

>degree to which they share similar positions on issues. For an overview,

>see Martin Lee's book, _The Beast Reawakens_.

>

>Re Pynchon's Playboy Japan interview, all of the issues you raise have been

>discussed here in detail since the beginning of this year. The editors of

>the magazine defend the authenticity and integrity of the interview and

>this has been corroborated to my satisfaction by other people not connected

>to the magazine. Believe what you want to believe.

>If you want to make

>Pynchon a supporter of the unelected Bush Jr administration and this phony

>war on terrorism, I think you're barking up the wrong tree, but feel free.

I'm not. My guess is Pynchon is far left. I think Bush was legitimately elected and I don't think the war on terrorism is phony. I do think that there are major concerns about the war though. War hasn't formally been declared. Terrorists can be held until the end of a conflict without trial and the conflict seems perpetual. Rules of engagement in the new war on terrorism aren't clear. Bombs are dropped on people who don't have anything to do with the repressive government being fought.

>If you look at the record you'll find that Pynchon has said more about

>himself, in various situations and especially with journalists, than the

>"Pynchon-as-recluse" myth wants to admit. In the last 5 years he has talked

>to CNN,

He called them to beg them not to show his picture on air.

>has been interviewed by journalist David Hadju, by the French

>translators of M&D (who reported many details of their interaction with

>Pynchon in the French press, I provided links to the relevant urls some

>time ago),

Interesting. I'll look into it. I'd like to read about that.

> Playboy Japan; he has responded to questions for several

>P-listers, and he initiated at least one interview project with a major US

>journalist that was later aborted.

>Re the relative obscurity of the Japanese media, it's well known (and

>easily corroborated) that many American and European celebrities do things

>in the Japanese media market they would never do at home, including

>appearances in TV and print advertisements, product endorsements,

>interviews, etc.

I've heard of that.

--Mike

> I believe that one reason many of them do this is because

>they know the Japanese media are not typically on the radar screen of their

>fans and followers in other parts of the world. I've worked as a US

>correspondent for more than a dozen Japanese magazines off and on for more

>than a decade and know a little bit about the media market over there, but

>please don't take my word for it, do a little research of your own and I

>think you'll find this to be true.

>

>

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