The Crying of Lot 49

An "art film" adapted from the Thomas Pynchon novel of the same title.

5/1/09: Thank you for all your comments and e-mails! A few months ago, YouTube removed the audio track from the film because of a copyright issue. I've submitted a dispute, and I hope that the soundtrack will be restored soon.

8/17/11: Thank you again for all of your feedback. I'm surprised that this video continues to get views, since I made it over four years ago. As of now, it no longer particularly represents my thoughts on Pynchon or post-modernism, and so I no longer feel the need to defend its credibility to viewers. Therefore, while you're welcome to continue leaving your thoughts for other readers who may benefit from them, please know that I do not intend to respond any further comments.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• post-modern
• Thomas
• Pychon
• The
• Crying
• of
• Lot
• 49

[Kirke182]

You missed the point entirely that Crying is a distinctly 60s document. It can't be updated for the 21st century. Office cubes with computers didn't exist. That was why Yoyodyne had a W.A.S.T.E. system in the first place. With email systems, you don't need a W.A.S.T.E. The novel foretold of the rise of email--a mail system that subverts the regular mail system--and the information superhighway. You made no attempt to understand the book.  And it certainly shows.

[filibusterer]

@Kirke182 This video was not an attempt to interpret or explain Pynchon's novel; it was simply intended to be a series of images that relate to the book chronologically. That having been said, I disliked the book and haven't returned to it since making this three years ago, so as someone who has clearly put a lot of thought its interpretation, you would know more than I would. Perhaps you should make your own artistic response to it, since you seem so passionate that it be understood correctly.

[timdaughte]

This feels like a version of "Crying" done by Microsoft's Summarize Text feature. It's all basically there but coherence and cohesion have been thrown out the Windows.

[filibusterer]

I'd hardly call the original novel coherent or cohesive. Pynchon writes prose that gets the point across, but the problem is that there isn't a point to it. It's form without function, style without purpose.

I find postmodern literature to be silly and trivial. I did the project as a joke, and posted it on YouTube to get credit, so the positive reaction I've gotten has left me amused and bewildered. I certainly don't undestand your motivation in taking time to seriously critique this.

[reaperette]

i really id not get the book. i have to write an essay about it, and i'm really really stuck.

the book was a pain in the ass to read.

[filibusterer]

Yeah, it's pretty difficult to get through. Write a post-modern essay - just turn in five blank pages. :P

[lynxeyedlykos]

You obviously didn't read the book. Did it occur to you that a Vietnamese monk might not have burned himself just for a RATM album cover?

[zmuhlbauer]

"Pynchon writes prose that gets the point across, but the problem is that there isn't a point to it. It's form without function, style without purpose."

Your saying Pynchon has no purpose in his novels? That "The Crying of Lot 49" has "prose that gets the point across but...there isn't a point to it." I'm sorry, but I think you need to clean out your schedule for an afternoon and reread it with new eyes, because Pynchon is far more than merely style and form.

[theskystretchesblue]

@filibusterer 

[Malaikat31]

Well, it's obvious that you don't have basic comprehension of modern literature and film directing. But this is quite interesting, altough lame.

[merylcando]

Bugs Buggy is the best thing about this string of non sequiturs, but I'm sure you have a good heart.

[lifepoet89]

Very interesting artistic depiction of the novel.

[hxzxxl]

capote?

[hunterbazaco]

This isn't a film...it's just filming.

[nicolaslevine]

Has it occured to you that that's the very same reason Pynchon put out the book in the first place?

Hehehe. Cheers.