Re: ZOOEYCAM
blah b b blah (jrovira@juno.com)
Sat, 27 Feb 1999 10:37:03 -0500 (EST)
I don't know how strongly we should read Zen influences in all of
Salinger's fiction (Go Magic). One thing we may want to consider is that
Salinger wasn't raised a Zen Buddhist, he started studying it as an adult
(Yeah, the Sonics are good, but it's too early to make predictions,
really). Was Catcher written before or after Salinger's involvement with
Zen? (all I know is, the Lakers suck. And I grew up 30 miles south of
LA, graduating from HS when Magic Johnson and Kareem were my team :) ).
I see Zen influences pretty strongly in "Teddy," in "Franny and Zooey,"
(more Zooey, though). But I don't see it so much in Catcher (I think
Salinger would be a Knicks fan). It's like the psychoanalytic crit thing.
Once you accept it, you see it everywhere. If you're looking for it,
you'll find it. The question to ask would be, "If I had no knowledge of
Zen principles, would I be able to deduce them from the text?" I think
the answer is a Big yes with Teddy -- it's almost didactic in nature,
virtually Zen propoganda -- and a no with Catcher (and don't rule out
Miami).
Jim
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