Finnegans Wake Grappa discussion
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Finnegans Wake
GR and you: Knife-eyed Theories
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Is an expression of class hatred
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Why would someone embarrass themself with such twaddle. I think what he must have meant by 'working class' is 'zombie consumer'. The Wake is a working class novel. Full stop. [only had patience to skim] "Anyone who claims that
Ali wrote: "to insist on remaining willfully, stalwartly ignorent of Finneganian scholarship"Also, as is typical in this case, remaining ignorant of the other half of the statement as well. Remaining ignorant of the working class.
It is a classic example of the style of much of our society's current (moderately visible) engagement with the arts – it allows for the dismissal of something challenging in such a way that allows one to feel a smug sense of superiority to anyone who "claims" to have engaged with the art and considers it of value. "I do not understand this. Therefore: (a) it is meaningless, and anyone who claims to have found meaning in it is a liar; and (b) its creator designed it as a personal insult to you, dear Reader, and your noble averageness. I, however, am here to defend your honour."
It goes along with the misuse of "pretentious" as an easy way to feel superior while remaining in a state of mediocrity.
O dearly beloved, let's not look upon the masque of idiocy for it has and will forever be worn, even at our funerals, my friends. Rather, eat as much bread as you can, and remember to be joyceous. Allmen.




This article is a pretty good summary of a lot of the most annoyingly ignorant views on the wake that are out there, not least because he seems to see the writing of FW as some sort of expression of hatred of the working classes...