Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Christopher Burlinson

@cmburlinson.bsky.social

1.2K followers 990 following 190 posts

A green thought in a green shade. Early modern English literature. I teach at Jesus College, Cambridge, but these words are mine, not theirs.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 1d

Yes, how dare you spoil a novel with a critical opinion. (Had you seen the film? I really did enjoy it, in spite of slight reservations.) It was brilliant to see you in person too!

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 1d

Wow excellent!!!

1 1

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 2d

A positive reaction?!

1 2

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 2d

Ha! I will!!

1 1

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 2d

Excellent: congratulations!!

1 1

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 2d

New teaching year; let’s go!

An old archway leading to rooms in Jesus College, Cambridge

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 3d

Thank you!

1 1

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 3d

That’s extremely interesting! I read others saying that Penn’s performance was in the Pynchon spirit, and I get that (and fwiw I really liked him), but the rest of the film didn’t quite aim for that register (or didn’t hit it). Again something that I think Inherent Vice did really well.

1 1

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 3d

Thanks: really interesting! It really made me want to rewatch Inherent Vice (again!).

1 1

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 3d

What a sequence!

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 3d

Yes I think you’re right! It’s such an interesting moment, isn’t it, because the film has lived in that exaggerated, unreal parallel present, and then suddenly at the end you feel she’s come back into our world, the film’s world has joined up with ours again.

1 1

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 3d

I guess I wonder whether Pynchon/PTA think that revolutionary politics always have that volatile, libidinal, authoritarian energy to them, and what happens to that energy when Perfidia voices her regret - I felt so little sense of danger when Willa/Charlene heads off to Oakland at the end.

1 1

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 3d

Oh I loved almost all of it!! (It feels so long since I’ve enjoyed a new release like this in the cinema; the last few months have felt really thin…) And these are excellent points.

1 1

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 3d

Ah, I think I’ve over-done it: I really, really liked so much of it, and as you say the energy is just amazing!

1 1

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 3d

Still, I loved it. Incredible energy!

1 2

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 3d

I also feel like Pynchon is so good at those narrative dead-ends and stopping points - their pathos, their inertia, their regrets, their contrivance and artifice; OBAA leaves Perfidia in such a difficult place when she crosses the border to Mexico, but then just brings her back to grant a blessing.

1 5

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 3d

Confession: I haven’t read Vineland. But both Pynchon and PTA are typically so good at showing how adversarial characters and movements tread the same psychic and cultural paths (Doc/Bigfoot), are drawn to each other and share the same space. I think that’s short-changed here.

3 6

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 3d

Not just the odd shift into slightly sentimental cosiness, but the weird transformation of Perfidia - such a volatile energy in the first hour of he film, then a wistfully benevolent voiceover, granting blessings at the very end.

4 8

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 3d

One Battle After Another is incredible on the big screen, and there’s so much about it to love and admire (it’s funny, it’s thrilling, it moves with such a sinuous and hazy rhythm), but I left feeling underwhelmed by the final 15 minutes or so.

2 9

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 6d

Such a good book!

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 7d

Ha ha!! Quaffable is good!

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 7d

I hope you like it as much as I did!!

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 7d

Are you enjoying Banffy? He sounds really interesting!

1 1

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 7d

Oh yes I’d definitely recommend! Have you read any of his others? I would start with Melancholy of Resistance or Satantango (both perhaps a bit tighter than Baron Wenckheim). War & War is also brilliant, but less rooted in Hungary. MoR was my first - I was agog - it’s great!

1 2

Christopher Burlinson @cmburlinson.bsky.social · 7d

Fantastic translation by Ottilie Mulzet.