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I now lack the juice to fuel the bluster to conceal that I am a simpleton

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Re: I now lack the juice to fuel the bluster to conceal that I am a simpleton

#11
post #2

This is a fantastic interview with Padgett Powell ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padgett_Powell ), a writer of the Southern tradition. IMO, the two things that make it great ar how candid and fluid Powell's answers are and the hilariously Newspeak of the interviewer's questions. Powell was Don Barthelme's student, his analysis of Barthelme's main thrust here is worth the read alone. If you want to dig deeper on this…

Flann O'Brian's novel about a novel "At swim two birds" has been one of my favorite yearly re-reads, I must take it down off the shelf again this weekend!

For me it's the third policeman, which is wonderfully dreamlike.

Re: I now lack the juice to fuel the bluster to conceal that I am a simpleton

#12

Not a lit major, never seen the term Mupdeemut before, but now excited to use it. Plenty of opportunity in personal and work conversation. edit: back to recommend against using Mupdeemut. People thought i was saying something derogatory and i had to spend significant time explaining myself.

Interesting, neither Google, nor GPT-4 know anything about that term, outside of TFA.

Re: I now lack the juice to fuel the bluster to conceal that I am a simpleton

#14
post #7
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not really "Newspeak" at all; if anything, it's the opposite. Newspeak had limited vocabulary. The interviewer is using a bunch of ten-dollar words. Still, interesting interview! I might read some Padgett Powell at some point because of this.

The little info box about the interviewer at the end of the article tells you all you need to know.

You got something against Canadians?

Re: I now lack the juice to fuel the bluster to conceal that I am a simpleton

#15
post #7
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not really "Newspeak" at all; if anything, it's the opposite. Newspeak had limited vocabulary. The interviewer is using a bunch of ten-dollar words. Still, interesting interview! I might read some Padgett Powell at some point because of this.

The little info box about the interviewer at the end of the article tells you all you need to know.

Hmm, what is it that I needed to know? And what does the info box tell me? As another simpleton in this world, I did not understand this comment.

> Jean Marc Ah-Sen is the author of Grand Menteur, In the Beggarly Style of Imitation, and Kilworthy Tanner. He lives in Toronto.

Re: I now lack the juice to fuel the bluster to conceal that I am a simpleton

#17

Not a lit major, never seen the term Mupdeemut before, but now excited to use it. Plenty of opportunity in personal and work conversation. edit: back to recommend against using Mupdeemut. People thought i was saying something derogatory and i had to spend significant time explaining myself.

Interesting, neither Google, nor GPT-4 know anything about that term, outside of TFA.

He clearly made it up during the interview.

I admit I spent more time right clicking -> 'search the web' for some of the words he used. Incredible vocabulary.. I have to use 'intellection' soon, I've needed to use a word like that before but couldn't find it.

Re: I now lack the juice to fuel the bluster to conceal that I am a simpleton

#18

Not a lit major, never seen the term Mupdeemut before, but now excited to use it. Plenty of opportunity in personal and work conversation. edit: back to recommend against using Mupdeemut. People thought i was saying something derogatory and i had to spend significant time explaining myself.

Padgett coins the word in the interview:

  [m]ade-[u]p [p]eople [d]oing [m]ade-[u]p [t]hings. Let’s call that MUPDMUT. With some liberty, Mupdeemut

Re: I now lack the juice to fuel the bluster to conceal that I am a simpleton

#19

A group of people just asked me what verisimilitude was, now I'm excited to come back and tell them about verisimilitudinously.

> A group of people just asked me what verisimilitude was

This happens all the time! Glad it’s not just me.

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