Week 2: Globalization & Culture

This week we read:
Thomas Pynchon, The Crying of Lot 49
Fredric Jameson, Chapter 1: Postmodernism
Dwight Eisenhower, " Farewell Address"

Interesting ideas from the reading:
Eisenhower: I read this, 1961 Farewell Address in which Eisenhower warns us (the American people) of the dangers of what he refers to as the " military industrial complex". He expresses a warning of the great power and responsibility having this large military will warrant. As I read this address, I couldn't help but relate this to the Doomsday System/fall out shelter discussion from my other class. It is interesting that Eisenhower, a formal general, is warning us of the growth and power of the military. Also interesting, the time period of his address signifies a change in the use/size of the military. Previously, it had been reactionary, building as needed during conflict. At the time of his address, it had become a new, complex prepared in advance. In my lifetime-- our military forces have always been this way.

Jameson: I ran out of time, and couldn't finish this chapter of extremely dense reading. But I did get a few good points that I will be using for future readings for this class and others. Historical context is important for reading of literature, analysis of art, film etc. This is one of the "commandments" of literature analysis. Jameson explains that for a work of literature to be understood, you must look at it in the time period of it's creation to fully understand it. (this becomes relevant via example below.)

Pynchon: I truly enjoyed The Crying of Lot 49. It is one of those novels I have been aware of, and meaning to read for quite some time, but hadn't quite gotten to yet. It is the story of a woman who sets out on an adventure to discover many mysterious circumstances, and conspiracy of a post delivery system. While the novel is well known for its themes deeply enveloped in the concept of entropy, among other ideas, what stood out to me was the stamp/post delivery conspiracy. This, using the historical context of the late 60's (Jameson commandment) can be understood when the fact that the use of zip codes in the US had just been established, and people were concerned with the surveillance of their lives. Perhaps part of Pynchon's novel was meant to parody the current concern. (or maybe it was pastiche, but that is an entirely different, long topic.)