Comments on: Grand Old Man of the New Journalism http://newcritics.com/blog1/2008/06/14/grand-old-man-of-the-new-journalism/ culture blogging for the good of the planet Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:51:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: RalphDeMarco http://newcritics.com/blog1/2008/06/14/grand-old-man-of-the-new-journalism/#comment-126347 RalphDeMarco Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:49:15 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2008/06/14/grand-old-man-of-the-new-journalism/#comment-126347 I have only read the 'kool-aid acid test' and a few essays. I was really knocked out by 'acid-test'. He reveals many unspoken truths about our culture with elegant prose and wit -- but to me there's a patronizing tone. Perhaps I need to take another look since he's so adored. I have only read the 'kool-aid acid test' and a few essays. I was really knocked out by 'acid-test'. He reveals many unspoken truths about our culture with elegant prose and wit — but to me there's a patronizing tone. Perhaps I need to take another look since he's so adored.

]]> By: Campaspe http://newcritics.com/blog1/2008/06/14/grand-old-man-of-the-new-journalism/#comment-126346 Campaspe Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:55:30 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2008/06/14/grand-old-man-of-the-new-journalism/#comment-126346 Wolfe is a fine writer, but I always thought Leonard Bernstein (full disclosure: my favorite conductor) got a raw deal from him. Wolfe is a fine writer, but I always thought Leonard Bernstein (full disclosure: my favorite conductor) got a raw deal from him.

]]> By: Kevin Wolf http://newcritics.com/blog1/2008/06/14/grand-old-man-of-the-new-journalism/#comment-126345 Kevin Wolf Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:36:32 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2008/06/14/grand-old-man-of-the-new-journalism/#comment-126345 The Right Stuff, whatever its faults as accurate journalism, is a helluva good read, perhaps because the view Wolfe took of the space program was such a contrast to the Life Magazine publicity machine's output.<br><br>But I agree with Tom (Watson, not Wolfe) on the tendency toward a one-dimensional view of whatever subject is at hand. Reading Wolfe on modern art and architecture (particularly The Painted Word but also From Bauhaus to Our House) can be annoying as hell if you know anything at all about art. He certainly did not convince me, despite its excesses and methods, that the entire project of Modern Art -- which occupied so many people and had such an impact in the 20th Century -- was complete bullshit, though he certainly tried. The Right Stuff, whatever its faults as accurate journalism, is a helluva good read, perhaps because the view Wolfe took of the space program was such a contrast to the Life Magazine publicity machine's output.

But I agree with Tom (Watson, not Wolfe) on the tendency toward a one-dimensional view of whatever subject is at hand. Reading Wolfe on modern art and architecture (particularly The Painted Word but also From Bauhaus to Our House) can be annoying as hell if you know anything at all about art. He certainly did not convince me, despite its excesses and methods, that the entire project of Modern Art — which occupied so many people and had such an impact in the 20th Century — was complete bullshit, though he certainly tried.

]]> By: tomwatson http://newcritics.com/blog1/2008/06/14/grand-old-man-of-the-new-journalism/#comment-126344 tomwatson Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:17:50 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2008/06/14/grand-old-man-of-the-new-journalism/#comment-126344 My view on Bonfire came from working as a political reporter in the Bronx at the time - and yes, it was incredibly ham-handed, no nuance at all. Even the Al Sharpton character was the merest of caricatures.... My view on Bonfire came from working as a political reporter in the Bronx at the time - and yes, it was incredibly ham-handed, no nuance at all. Even the Al Sharpton character was the merest of caricatures….

]]> By: LanceMannion http://newcritics.com/blog1/2008/06/14/grand-old-man-of-the-new-journalism/#comment-126343 LanceMannion Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:09:26 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2008/06/14/grand-old-man-of-the-new-journalism/#comment-126343 Man oh man, how I used to love Wolfe's write stuff. But Bonfire of the Vanities soured me a bit, and not because of its politics, but because it was so hamhanded in its characterizations. And then I learned that my favorite of his non-fiction books, The Right Stuff, included a fair amount of fiction. Now I'm no longer sure what I think, unless I'm actually reading something by him. Then I tend to think, Wow can this man tell a really fine lie! Man oh man, how I used to love Wolfe's write stuff. But Bonfire of the Vanities soured me a bit, and not because of its politics, but because it was so hamhanded in its characterizations. And then I learned that my favorite of his non-fiction books, The Right Stuff, included a fair amount of fiction. Now I'm no longer sure what I think, unless I'm actually reading something by him. Then I tend to think, Wow can this man tell a really fine lie!

]]> By: tomwatson http://newcritics.com/blog1/2008/06/14/grand-old-man-of-the-new-journalism/#comment-126342 tomwatson Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:16:13 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2008/06/14/grand-old-man-of-the-new-journalism/#comment-126342 Bob - he is indeed a fascinating figure. It's funny, because he was praised so lavishly for Bonfire of the Vanities - yet he got it so damned wrong! Or rather, he got a one-dimensional cartoonish view from a single source (a law-and-order Bronx judge who was his pal) - yet it's considered a a true journal of 80s New York! Bob - he is indeed a fascinating figure. It's funny, because he was praised so lavishly for Bonfire of the Vanities - yet he got it so damned wrong! Or rather, he got a one-dimensional cartoonish view from a single source (a law-and-order Bronx judge who was his pal) - yet it's considered a a true journal of 80s New York!

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