Comments on: Vidal versus Mailer/Mailer versus the world smackdown, 1971 http://www.historiann.com/2009/02/13/vidal-versus-mailermailer-versus-the-world-smackdown-1971/ History and sexual politics, 1492 to the present Mon, 20 May 2013 17:15:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: The Radical Is Reminded Of A Time When Intellectuals Were Witty And Television Talk Shows Were Smart - Tenured Radical - The Chronicle of Higher Education http://www.historiann.com/2009/02/13/vidal-versus-mailermailer-versus-the-world-smackdown-1971/comment-page-1/#comment-840718 The Radical Is Reminded Of A Time When Intellectuals Were Witty And Television Talk Shows Were Smart - Tenured Radical - The Chronicle of Higher Education Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:41:01 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=3500#comment-840718 [...] This is brought to you courtesy of the intrepid, vacationing and always witty, Historiann. [...] [...] This is brought to you courtesy of the intrepid, vacationing and always witty, Historiann. [...]

]]> By: Gore Vidal: 75% cynical visionary + 25% conspiracy nut =100% entertaining! : Historiann : History and sexual politics, 1492 to the present http://www.historiann.com/2009/02/13/vidal-versus-mailermailer-versus-the-world-smackdown-1971/comment-page-1/#comment-450203 Gore Vidal: 75% cynical visionary + 25% conspiracy nut =100% entertaining! : Historiann : History and sexual politics, 1492 to the present Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:35:38 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=3500#comment-450203 [...] self-loathing.)  Also:  I love that writerly competition in Vidal’s dismissal of White!  Writers of Vidal’s generation were pugnaciously competitive–now, writers are always blurbing each other’s books and fawning over each [...] [...] self-loathing.)  Also:  I love that writerly competition in Vidal’s dismissal of White!  Writers of Vidal’s generation were pugnaciously competitive–now, writers are always blurbing each other’s books and fawning over each [...]

]]> By: John S. http://www.historiann.com/2009/02/13/vidal-versus-mailermailer-versus-the-world-smackdown-1971/comment-page-1/#comment-239081 John S. Tue, 24 Feb 2009 03:41:29 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=3500#comment-239081 This review of Elaine Showalter's new book on Salon.com seems *very* appropriate to this discussion, esp. Satsuma's most recent point: http://www.salon.com/books/review/2009/02/24/elaine_showalter/ This review of Elaine Showalter’s new book on Salon.com seems *very* appropriate to this discussion, esp. Satsuma’s most recent point: http://www.salon.com/books/review/2009/02/24/elaine_showalter/

]]> By: Satsuma http://www.historiann.com/2009/02/13/vidal-versus-mailermailer-versus-the-world-smackdown-1971/comment-page-1/#comment-227350 Satsuma Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:12:23 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=3500#comment-227350 It would be really interesting to have an equal number of women and men academics evaluate what they consider to be great books. I have never met a woman who ever liked Mailer, for example. If you look at the New York Times book review and other similar reviews nationwide, the imbalance of male authored books and female authored books is striking. Within feminism, there is a huge cultural divide with a completely different set of authors. If women controlled all the book reviews worldwide, how would literature be different? I'm betting the "great book" list would be amazingly different. It would be really interesting to have an equal number of women and men academics evaluate what they consider to be great books. I have never met a woman who ever liked Mailer, for example. If you look at the New York Times book review and other similar reviews nationwide, the imbalance of male authored books and female authored books is striking.

Within feminism, there is a huge cultural divide with a completely different set of authors.

If women controlled all the book reviews worldwide, how would literature be different? I’m betting the “great book” list would be amazingly different.

]]> By: Geoff http://www.historiann.com/2009/02/13/vidal-versus-mailermailer-versus-the-world-smackdown-1971/comment-page-1/#comment-226280 Geoff Sun, 15 Feb 2009 03:46:37 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=3500#comment-226280 The Onion once ran a parody title of a recent Mailer tome, "The Time of My Times by Me Featuring Me." Still makes me smile. The Onion once ran a parody title of a recent Mailer tome, “The Time of My Times by Me Featuring Me.” Still makes me smile.

]]> By: koshem bos http://www.historiann.com/2009/02/13/vidal-versus-mailermailer-versus-the-world-smackdown-1971/comment-page-1/#comment-225698 koshem bos Sat, 14 Feb 2009 21:15:54 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=3500#comment-225698 Vidal is a mediocre writer, a hater of many, snob, pompous and otherwise a forgettable figure. Haters, in particular, shouldn't be elevated to a human level. Vidal is a mediocre writer, a hater of many, snob, pompous and otherwise a forgettable figure. Haters, in particular, shouldn’t be elevated to a human level.

]]> By: Joe the Plumber http://www.historiann.com/2009/02/13/vidal-versus-mailermailer-versus-the-world-smackdown-1971/comment-page-1/#comment-225500 Joe the Plumber Sat, 14 Feb 2009 18:21:07 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=3500#comment-225500 Historiann - I am sad to report a typographical error, "hillarious", in today's otherwise correct missive. Also, although I most widely known as a plumber, I wanted to let you know that I am now a political philosopher, as evidenced by my latest pamphlet, "Fighting for the American Dream." As a fellow Buckeye, would you be so kind as to work this spirited, Edmund Burkesque defense of the Empire into your reading group rota? Thanks! Historiann -

I am sad to report a typographical error, “hillarious”, in today’s otherwise correct missive.

Also, although I most widely known as a plumber, I wanted to let you know that I am now a political philosopher, as evidenced by my latest pamphlet, “Fighting for the American Dream.”

As a fellow Buckeye, would you be so kind as to work this spirited, Edmund Burkesque defense of the Empire into your reading group rota? Thanks!

]]> By: Indyanna http://www.historiann.com/2009/02/13/vidal-versus-mailermailer-versus-the-world-smackdown-1971/comment-page-1/#comment-225476 Indyanna Sat, 14 Feb 2009 18:07:50 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=3500#comment-225476 I thought we were going to see the ensuing rumble. That part must be copyrighted or embargoed. Cavett sure made a lot of money/per word on that particular episode. As with Leno and Letterman today, they were always looking for the "next Jack Paar" in those days, and I don't think Cavett was the one. I used to see a much more aged '80s Mailer shuffling along Willow Street in Brooklyn Heights, going to wherever he lived with his Sunday N.Y. Times. Flanner was the class of that particular act, I think we could conclude. I thought we were going to see the ensuing rumble. That part must be copyrighted or embargoed. Cavett sure made a lot of money/per word on that particular episode. As with Leno and Letterman today, they were always looking for the “next Jack Paar” in those days, and I don’t think Cavett was the one. I used to see a much more aged ’80s Mailer shuffling along Willow Street in Brooklyn Heights, going to wherever he lived with his Sunday N.Y. Times. Flanner was the class of that particular act, I think we could conclude.

]]> By: Satsuma http://www.historiann.com/2009/02/13/vidal-versus-mailermailer-versus-the-world-smackdown-1971/comment-page-1/#comment-224258 Satsuma Sat, 14 Feb 2009 03:09:43 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=3500#comment-224258 Janet Flanner was heaven to see in person. I'd never seen this clip, but loved her instantly!! What a special connection to the lesbian left bank past, thank you so much for putting it on this blog Historiann. You should get a Legion of Honor knighthood for that :-) Janet Flanner was heaven to see in person. I’d never seen this clip, but loved her instantly!! What a special connection to the lesbian left bank past, thank you so much for putting it on this blog Historiann. You should get a Legion of Honor knighthood for that :-)

]]> By: Satsuma http://www.historiann.com/2009/02/13/vidal-versus-mailermailer-versus-the-world-smackdown-1971/comment-page-1/#comment-224256 Satsuma Sat, 14 Feb 2009 03:07:45 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=3500#comment-224256 I too love Gore Vidal's wit and essays. His historical fiction never much interested me. And that wonderful clip of him duking it out with the hated Norman Mailer was great!! What a gem. I also loved it that we had the gay and lesbian intellectual teamed up with Dick Cavette against the wife stabbing anti-feminist Mailer! Oh no I'm not biased. What's interesting is that even after all this time, I still feel so passionate about those people. They were special intellectuals who are unequaled today!! "Palimpsest" is a great book. Vidal really has great Kennedy myth puncturing observations too in that book. I too love Gore Vidal’s wit and essays. His historical fiction never much interested me. And that wonderful clip of him duking it out with the hated Norman Mailer was great!! What a gem.

I also loved it that we had the gay and lesbian intellectual teamed up with Dick Cavette against the wife stabbing anti-feminist Mailer! Oh no I’m not biased.

What’s interesting is that even after all this time, I still feel so passionate about those people. They were special intellectuals who are unequaled today!!

“Palimpsest” is a great book. Vidal really has great Kennedy myth puncturing observations too in that book.

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