Hi Focs:
Gotta say i never heard of a slow reading group, but I'd suggest reading at
whatever pace produces the greatest comprehension. This month's experiment
was first imagined as a way to quiet our own voices and stregthen our ears,
so to speak. I mean, we have so many different voices here, that sometimes
its hard to recall Pirsig's take on the issues. And so the whole point of
this experiment is simply to tune into a single voice, the author's voice.
Because a full cup is a full cup, even if its full of Pirsig.
Don't get me wrong, we've still got to hear from everyone. We still need
posters who are thinking about the issues. And those posts can have no voice
other than your own and there is no such thing as an "objective" opinion
about a novel, anyway. But we are all looking at the same text. The idea is
to interpet the meaning of what's on those pages.
This is all just introductory info. We've never done this before and I feel
responsible. In fact, I'm a little reluctant to say much about the substance
of it because its more fun to just see what happens. But maybe are a few
introductory thoughts about the meat might help too.
First of all, I hope no one gets bored and that each of you will enjoy
returning to the source. Its been quite refreshing for me. (I re-read it
yesterday.) Its pretty cool to know where the story ends as you begin page
one. You can see him laying the groundwork for the rest of the book like a
first-timer never would. All kinds of things were "clicking". Anyway...
The first three chapters of Lila were filled with thoughts and scenes that
are so tempting. I just want to jump right into the details and go spouting
off. But it seems like this whole discussion should open with a wide shot.
It'll help bring out the literary side and serve to help us see things in
the widest context.
You know, start way, way back with a helicopter shot. A bird's eye view of
the whole river valley around Kingston. Maybe even bring her down over the
locks and follow the water into the harbor. We see all the boats docked in
the pre-dawn cold, lined up like little toys. The approch slows as we begin
to focus on just one of those silent boats. We slide over its icy deck just
like we slid over the water and then enter the dark cabin below where two
lovers lie.
But its strange to think that if it were a movie, all we'd see in the way of
action, besides the flashbacks of bar dancing and teepee tripping and such,
is a guy lighting a fire and straightening up some card cataloge files. The
first three chapters all take place in just a few minutes. Everything that
happens in the first three chapters are the thoughts and recollections of a
naked, shivering philosopher, one whose got a hangover and just got laid.
Lila isn't even awake at the end of chapter three.
Broadly speaking, its all about freedom and order, open space and elaborate
contructs. It about Indians and Europeans, and Americans, who stand in the
middle and are both. If it were a movie we could inter cut falshes of
imitation Victorian's stuctures and the Indian peyote ceremony, with the
singing and druming, fire and visions of vast spider webs.
Ok, I'm trying a little too hard evoke the images. Not because they're more
important than the explicit philosophical assertions, but because I think we
tend to ignore that part of Lila. Its a different way of thinking, more
imagination than analysis, but it still engages the intellect. There is a
very good reason for giving us the MOQ in the form of a novel, no?
Its a good thing that I'm out of time because otherwise the temptation to go
into the details would win...
Looking forward to it. Thanks for playing along.
OK, just one little detail. Anybody else see this; Pirsig took a long time
to actually work it all it with his slips of paper and all, but the MOQ was
spun and woven that night in the teepee, right?
DMB
MOQ.org - http://www.moq.org
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