RARA-AVIS: Re: Random Notes On Redemption

From: davezeltserman (Dave.Zeltserman@gmail.com)
Date: 06 Sep 2009

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    Mario,

    Merriam-Webster's definition of nihilism:

    1 a : a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless b : a doctrine that denies any objective ground of truth and especially of moral truths 2 a : a doctrine or belief that conditions in the social organization are so bad as to make destruction desirable for its own sake independent of any constructive program or possibility b capitalized : the program of a 19th century Russian party advocating revolutionary reform and using terrorism and assassination

    I think anyone who has read James M. Cain's "Double Indemnity" would have to say it takes a nihlistic viewpoint, and I'd argue the same about "Postman Always Rings Twice", and many other noir novels, including those by Jim Thompson, Jason Starr, Charles Willeford, etc..

    --Dave

    --- In rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, "jacquesdebierue" <jacquesdebierue@...> wrote:
    >
    > --- In rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, "gsp.schoo@" <gsp.schoo@> wrote:
    > >
    > >
    > > I've no argument with these ideas Kevin, except to suggest that maybe you haven't given nihilist noir a fair shot. I'm going to speculate that you'd include Camus among the nihilists. Maybe not, but his metaphorical use of the Sisyphusian (how's my spelling on that?) myth to illustrate the meaningless of life would suggest you might. Meaning is certainly questioned in The Stranger.
    > >
    >
    >
    > And what precisely is wrong with nihilism, be it in literature or in real life? Let me point out, also, that what one person perceives as nihilism, another may perceive as a stance of integrity, be it Man versus The System or what it takes to survive, or what have you.
    >
    > mrt
    >



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