The Crying of Lot 49

High v. pop culture in Lot 49

Discuss the relationship between these worlds, for example, Oedipa participates in Nefastis' physics experiment while Porky Pig cartoons are on TV. She is attending a Tupper-ware party while thinking about an orchestra concerto and the hippie band, The Paranoids, know all about a Jacobean revenge drama, 'The Courier's Tragedy.' What is Pynchon saying with the clash of these two very different societies?

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Last updated by rebecca d #177069
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Noting the distinctions between high and pop culture is a common feature of postmodern literature such as this novel. In the examples you have provided, and again in many postmodern novels, high culture is disrupted by pop culture and often Causes conflict for the characters who attempt to define themselves by high culture but clearly demonstrate an identity with pop culture.

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