more on modernism (fair warning!)

Daniel Fusch · 26 Oct 1999, 23:26 · from urth-v0028.mbox · original

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From: "Daniel Fusch" <dfusch at hotmail.com>
Subject: (urth) more on modernism (fair warning!)
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 16:26:35 PDT
Message-ID: <urth-v0028-0258 at digest.urth.net>
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Alex,

Thanks for clarifying that. You're right; "Ulysses" and "The Sound and the=20
Fury" are the most frequently taught works of modernist fiction, although w=
e=20
should probably add "Light in August" and make it a threesome.

(snip)
"It is certainly possible to be a Modernist and a science fiction writer,=20
and because of these concerns it is where Wolfe is probably best=20
categorized. But, for purposes of analysis, I actually think that how littl=
e=20
he uses the tools commonly associated with modernism is interesting."

I'll keep on insisting that the tools that one can use in modernism are as=20
variable as the individual authors are--and that the most often seen=20
examples (Ulysses and The Sound and the Fury) are simply the most extreme=20
examples of modernist experimentation. Faulkner has been known to write=20
books with normal sentence structure. And, of course, there are the plethor=
a=20
of other modernist writers whose sentences are normal but whose styles of=20
narration are not. So to speak of how little Wolfe uses the tools commonly=20
associated with modernism is only to speak of how Wolfe does not sound like=20
Joyce or Faulkner. But Joyce and Faulkner are not the only modernist=20
writers.

Therefore, a modernist criticism of Wolfe can still be very insightful. Or=20
at least a criticism of the metafiction; I just find it hopelessly=20
interesting to examine Wolfe's investigation of the art of storytelling.

But having said all that, I realize I am probably arguing a moot point.=20
After all, I don't seem to be trying to convince anyone of anything other=20
than the fact that a modernist perspective on Wolfe's work can be=20
particularly interesting. But that is subjective; it may that a modernist=20
perspective is not particularly interesting to everyone else.

So...my apologies for torturing everyone with this long-winded discussion o=
f=20
modernism. And my apologies (to echo alga) if I seem pompous.

As for Borges...I will seek out his work at once!

Now...what's this about racism?

Daniel

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