Now that we’ve all read the harbinger of camp sexuality novels, I’m going to try to talk about it like a grown up. I like to think Vidal had a grand plan for Myra as a social critic. I think he was too large a political figure, drawing from too many aspects of his own life (and his inherent surroundings) to produce such an odd fiction piece without a message and an agenda. So what are we to make of Myra as a commentator?
This is the diary of a transexual female, though castrated and essentially void of sex. So who does this figure represent in a late 60′s society? We see her cover every bit of sexual and gender taboo possible. She describes her (uncle?) Buck Loner as a loving and full of life man, one she will soon possess. We know she will never be possessed. We also know this all comes from the peculiar mind of a male, sex changed, and ready for the revolution. Indeed the novel is littered with short blasts of sharp commentary on politics, war, america, and film. This is all aside from the largest theme, a sexual umbrella covering rape, sex change, feminism, sexuality, the list goes on and on.
As someone mentioned in class (forgive me for who), this sexual irrevorance and anything goes–all topics covered approach also makes it a very sexless novel. By sex being ever present, the focus in some ways shifts to other more pressing issues, like world war two. To be honest though, I have no idea what Myra reporesents, as a public defender or moderator of her world, and Gore’s world.
I tried laying out all of the facts in a stenno to try to make simple and clear sense of who or what major character roles may represent. Sadly though I didn’t get too much out of this. The great all American boy is terribly raped and changes his sexuality. Myra is a guy who cannot be possessed by other men, who craves to emasculate/sleep with every person around.
Sorry if this all was directionless, I want to see this novel as a political satire (given the author and time) but am struggling. Any thoughts on who people represent?
If Rush Limbaugh and Ru Paul collarborated, they couldn’t touch this novel.
September 27, 2008 at 3:36 am |
Well, I think Myra may help you out on this one. I think they each play a part in the silver screen pantheon, and that reflects on the American populace. So most of the characters are who one might think they are… except for Myra. Myra seems to be every stereotype of someone who is outside of the mainstream of the time, all rolled up in one. Myra takes who these people represent and changes them.
Also the Rocky Horror Picture Show comes to mind…
September 27, 2008 at 4:32 pm |
Brandon,
I know, Vidal is such a political figure, he has to have an agenda in this novel. I think that we were on to something in class the other day with the connection of power, politics and sexuality. As well as being so political, Vidal was also bisexual. Clearly the details in the novel regarding homosexual sex had to come from someone who had first hand knowledge.( Especially the rape scene) In that article Kim posted, by Sloman I think, it talks about Vidal as being from this group of very masculine writers. Vidal was the first to step outside the conventional with his unconvential sexuality. We have to keep in mind the that there was a closed door policy regarding sex, especially unconventional sex, which didn’t start to open until the 60′s. Vidal was one of the first to bust the door down in the literary circle.
October 1, 2008 at 12:02 am |
I appreciate your struggle with this one, and I wish I had something to contribute to your arguement here. I agree that Vidal must have had an agenda and a purpose through Myra, but I’m also at a loss for what exactly that was.