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wubears48 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
No, you aren't paying attention, the most common misunderstanding of his writing is that it is cynical, this is false. Vonnegut's most impressive messages and themes have been the hope of humanity in the face of catastrophe, as evidenced by his quoting his Uncle Alex and many, many more I don'f feel like quoting. He satirizes, the purpose is to show how bad things are, don't mistake this for hopelessness.
breaststroker14 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
I can't believe how sardonic he is even in his old age. I love it!
GreatUnwashedMass (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
He looks like terrence mckenna (or vice-versa)
BRIANisBALLIN (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
i hope i'm competent at 80
wayward4now (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
His genius was that he never pretended to be one. I've read almost all of his books, and he made the point that being genius left you open to being blindsided by the everyday parts of life. He celebrated life while acknowledging that living could be like being the bearing in a pinball machine. From pillar to post to the flipper again. That is true, according to how I see things. He merely acknowledged that we are not always in control and there are times all you can do is to try to survive.
EnnuiKen (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
I also find it hilarious to see all of these "free thinkers" hero worshiping Vonnegut as though he were intellectually flawless. He was bright, sure, but can't we appreciate intelligence without constantly referring to someone who possesses his fair share of it as a genius? On the other hand, expecting wisdom on YouTube is like jumping off the Chrysler Building and hoping to live.
EnnuiKen (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
I'd also like to say that I don't judge him as being a bad person for being miserable. I'm not trying to make light of his personal problems, I'm merely saying that trying to substantiate Vonnegut as someone who was ultimately life affirming is ridiculous. His outlook as far as I understand it was that the human condition is a series of bizarre and tragic collisions in space and time. This appealed to me as a 17 year old who also favored Camus, but no longer.
EnnuiKen (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
I've read seven of Vonnegut's novels and my opinion at this point is that they're diversionary and cynical, albeit hysterical. There is no way a rational person could examine the man's writings and not understand that they're indicative of a depressed sensibility. He even mockingly gives praise to God that his life is almost over at the beginning of this intervie; if you conclude this was a person who enjoyed existence you simply aren't paying attention.
Intiman14 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
I'm sorry to see that everything he wrote apparently went over your head.
Thanks for sharing, though.
SpFiota (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
You are one clever guy. Or is it gal? |
