The wave of the future
editIn Thomas Pynchon's novel Gravity's Rainbow (not The Great American Novel, as some would have it, but The Great Global Novel), the protagonist Tyrone Slothrop goes looking for information in Zürich at the close of World War Two. He bumps into the Russian black market dealer Semyavin, and a memorable exchange takes place. Semyavin asks Slothrop:
"What is it you're after?"
"Uh, information?" Gee, this stuff tastes likes Moxie....
"Oh, another one." Giving Slothrop a sour look. "Life was simple before the first war. You wouldn't remember. Drugs, sex, luxury items. Currency in those days was no more than a sideline, and the term 'industrial espionage' was unknown. But I've seen it change - oh, how it's changed. The German Inflation, that should've been my clue right there, zeros strung end to end from here to Berlin. I would have stern talks with myself. 'Semyavin, it's only a temporary lapse away from reality. A small aberration, nothing to worry about. Act as you always have - strength of character, good mental health. Courage, Semyavin! Soon all will be back to normal.' But do you know what?"
"Let me guess."
A tragic sigh. "Information. What's wrong with dope and women? Is it any wonder the world's gone insane, with information come to be the only real medium of exchange?" "I thought it was cigarettes."
"You dream." He brings out a list of Zürich cafés and gathering spots. Under Espionage, Industrial, Slothrop finds three. Ultra, Lichtspiel, and Sträggeli. They are on both banks of the Limmat, and widely spaced.
"Footwork," folding the list in an oversize zootsuit-pocket.
"It'll get easier. Someday it'll all be done by machine. Information machines. You are the wave of the future."
(Thomas Pynchon: Gravity's Rainbow, p. 258)
Back in 1973, Pynchon saw it coming. Rather than a temporary lapse away from reality, information has become our reality, our world. Today, Slothrop's footwork wouldn't have to be conducted on foot, but could be conducted right here, at Wikipedia.
"Information wants to be free," they say, and I couldn't agree more. However, we shouldn't allow information too much freedom: We should allow it to wander everywhere, but we should never relax our demand for stringency and accuracy. Freedom can sometimes equal a running away from responsibility, but in my contributions to Wikipedia I will do my best to ensure that the freedom of information doesn't mutate into a laxity of information.
About me
editI come from Denmark. I have an MA in Comparative Literature and am currently finishing my PhD-dissertation on postmodern American Literature. In my contributions I will focus on my field of expertise, literature, but if the mood strikes me I might venture into other fields.
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