Hi Mike. Thank you for your questions, but just so you know up front: I am not a scholar of Percy, like quite a few on this list; I’m just a layman lover of his prose and insights.
It has, also, been many years since I last read Thanatos …. and so I shall lay low in answering your question about his intentions when writing that particular story.
Your first question is interesting to me: Was Percy enamored of scientism? I had to look that word up, to be certain on the import of your question. Webster gives two definitions:
1. methods
and attitudes typical of or attributed to the natural scientist
2.
an exaggerated trust in the efficacy of the methods of natural science
applied to
all areas of investigation (as in philosophy, the social sciences,
and the humanities)
Percy
studied medicine, and was therefore schooled in science. I think it’s more than safe to say, however, that he didn’t place an “exaggerated trust” in science. His thinking was quite to the contrary, as
reflected in this well-known quote from Lost in the Cosmos:
“You live in a deranged age - more deranged than usual, because despite great scientific and technological
advances, man has not the faintest idea of who he is or what he is doing.”
In saying this, however, Percy was not expressing a distrust of science.
He was focused more on the fact that a person can still fail — despite
the undeniable advances of scientific knowledge — to see himself (or herself), or to see or understand his (or her) place
in the “cosmos.” And perhaps he thought the scientific advances are the cause of some of this dislocation — I’ll leave that question to the scholars here.
In any event, I don’t think Percy would, for example, join the ranks
of today’s science deniers on the right. I think, moreover, that he would be quite disturbed by the difficulty so many have today — due to polarization, and folks living in information silos — with understanding just basic facts (such as the fact that the
2020 election was not stolen).
Anyway … my thoughts.
Karl Terrell
On Nov 5, 2022, at 4:45 PM, Michael Larson <larsonovic AT gmail.com> wrote:
Karl, two questions: 1) Do you think Percy was enamored of scientism? 2) What do you think he was after in Thanatos?
Mike Larson
Send Percy-L mailing list submissions to
percy-l AT lists.ibiblio.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
https://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/percy-l
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
percy-l-request AT lists.ibiblio.org
You can reach the person managing the list at
percy-l-owner AT lists.ibiblio.org
When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of Percy-L digest..."
Today's Topics:
1. Re: Adaptation of Walker Percy Novel ?The Second Coming? -
Aaron Magnani (Producer) (Karl M. Terrell)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sat, 5 Nov 2022 18:00:15 +0000
From: "Karl M. Terrell" <kterrell AT stokeswagner.com>
To: "janetcantor37 AT yahoo.com" <janetcantor37 AT yahoo.com>, "Percy-L:
Literary, Religious, Scientific, and Philosophical Discussion"
<percy-l AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [percy-l] Adaptation of Walker Percy Novel ?The Second
Coming? - Aaron Magnani (Producer)
Message-ID: <39157957-C2B6-4313-8605-333FF77E7A63 AT stokeswagner.com" target="_blank">39157957-C2B6-4313-8605-333FF77E7A63 AT stokeswagner.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
I would hope, though, that any moviemaker of Thanatos would not cheaply politicize it as a critique of liberalism (either in the broad classic sense or under the ?liberal? label in American politics), or as an endorsement of the current right-wing?s fetishistic
misunderstanding of expertise based on real science.
Percy was after something altogether different.
Karl Terrell
Sent from my iPhone
On Nov 5, 2022, at 11:16 AM, janetcantor37--- via Percy-L <percy-l AT lists.ibiblio.org> wrote:
?
I would like to see any good adaptation of any Percy novel.
I think the easiest for adaptation would be The Thanatos Syndrome.
It is wild enough to illustrate today's choices about how our authorities handled Covid and vaccinations, and about how the ruling class imposes its ideas of what is going on in the planet and casually ruins our lives and our economy as they go about it. Look
how the novel matches how do gooders who think they know what is best for everyone else often forget that others' personal freedom and happiness must not be ignored while they are "helping" the world.
There is also that plot about Nazis in the novel that comes from Percy's own pivotal experience of seeing some Nazi Youth when he was a young boy and being viscerally changed by that and never forgetting that scary feeling. There is so much talk about Nazis
these days, even that subplot is relevant.
A side comment: Percy hated the Nazis and used that subplot in an attempt to give the reader the same terror he understood about tyranny and how it can become normalcy so easily. He was balancing that against the "good intentions" of those who were wrongheadedly
giving the happy juice to everyone to bring peace and calm into the world. Yet someone in my book group, a very intelligent woman read that and hated the book because she didn't like the way Percy was minimizing and mocking the Holocaust. She missed Percy's
point completely.
Another woman there made the pithiest comment on the novel. "Just because we are able to do something does not always mean we should do it."
I think The Thanatos Syndrome could be a perfect novel to adapt today.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if movie makers could at last see that these novels were prescient and could entertain us yet give us all food for thought.
I wonder if any adaptation of The Second Coming could be successful. It isa strange story, but if it could be pulled off, it could be magical.
Janet Cantor
On Saturday, November 5, 2022, 10:38:07 AM EDT, Henry P. Mills III <wppdirector AT gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Percy-L:
Members may be interested in this news of a future Percy novel film. Is the Second Coming more adaptive to the big screen than the Moviegoer?
I wonder what novel members of the community think would be best suited for a feature-length film? It?d be interesting to hear the community?s responses. Is Second Coming the most likely one?
Best wishes,
Henry Mills
----
Aaron Magnani Developing Film Adaptation Of Walker Percy Novel ?The Second Coming?; Peter Arneson Set As Screenwriter
Aaron Magnani has optioned screen rights to Walker Percy?s New York Times bestseller The Second Coming, with plans to develop the novel for film. He?s currently in search of a director for the adaptation and will produce via under his Aaron Magnani Productions
banner. Peter Arneson adapted the script and will executive produce.
The story centers on a wealthy, suicidal widower who searches for proof of God but finds much more when he meets a young woman fugitive from a mental hospital. Influenced by the real-life suicides of Percy?s father and grandfather and suspected suicide of his
mother, the plot combines comedy, tragedy and romance, with themes of alienation and redemption.
?This story is very relatable to the world we have been living in,? said Magnani. ?And the adaptation is as much a director?s piece as an actor?s piece and incredible character study.?
Continue reading at ?
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__deadline.com_2022_03_aaron-2Dmagnani-2Ddeveloping-2Dwalker-2Dpercy-2Dnovel-2Dthe-2Dsecond-2Dcoming-2Dfor-2Dfilm-2D1234981570_&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=NfRmwuJFpTwU96M_kHBZIprVT28QDbtyAHvd2i3UwYM&s=1qadhJskth97vBvr70Mu1f4spzt4xLyxk7iBkXhd4cA&e=>https://deadline.com/2022/03/aaron-magnani-developing-walker-percy-novel-the-second-coming-for-film-1234981570/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__deadline.com_2022_03_aaron-2Dmagnani-2Ddeveloping-2Dwalker-2Dpercy-2Dnovel-2Dthe-2Dsecond-2Dcoming-2Dfor-2Dfilm-2D1234981570_&d=DwQFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=NfRmwuJFpTwU96M_kHBZIprVT28QDbtyAHvd2i3UwYM&s=1qadhJskth97vBvr70Mu1f4spzt4xLyxk7iBkXhd4cA&e=>
----------------------------------
USING PERCY-L
* Read Percy-L Charter and Policies: <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__ibiblio.org_wpercy_listserv_charter-2Dpolicies.html&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=NfRmwuJFpTwU96M_kHBZIprVT28QDbtyAHvd2i3UwYM&s=k-FB-RMezRRvdc7ZjrpKBzgCAPUKk9_T3XdjzU_jUw4&e=>
https://ibiblio.org/wpercy/listserv/charter-policies.html<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__ibiblio.org_wpercy_listserv_charter-2Dpolicies.html&d=DwQFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=NfRmwuJFpTwU96M_kHBZIprVT28QDbtyAHvd2i3UwYM&s=k-FB-RMezRRvdc7ZjrpKBzgCAPUKk9_T3XdjzU_jUw4&e=>
* Manage Your Membership: <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lists.ibiblio.org_mailman_listinfo_percy-2Dl&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=NfRmwuJFpTwU96M_kHBZIprVT28QDbtyAHvd2i3UwYM&s=ZEFdQNaR1gtsVgcyLQf7qUj4YF7ECNIA42OFL1tGLxw&e=>
https://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/percy-l<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lists.ibiblio.org_mailman_listinfo_percy-2Dl&d=DwQFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=NfRmwuJFpTwU96M_kHBZIprVT28QDbtyAHvd2i3UwYM&s=ZEFdQNaR1gtsVgcyLQf7qUj4YF7ECNIA42OFL1tGLxw&e=>
* Submit a Post to Percy-L:
percy-l AT lists.ibiblio.org<mailto:percy-l AT lists.ibiblio.org>
* Contact the Listserv Manager:
percy.listserv.manager AT gmail.com<mailto:percy.listserv.manager AT gmail.com>
LISTSERV ARCHIVES
* View Percy-L Discussion Archives: <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lists.ibiblio.org_pipermail_percy-2Dl_&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=NfRmwuJFpTwU96M_kHBZIprVT28QDbtyAHvd2i3UwYM&s=R5QkXeE3lWHFMChF1lsVcqm9qC0FLsNg11I7frLRIsc&e=>
https://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/percy-l/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lists.ibiblio.org_pipermail_percy-2Dl_&d=DwQFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=NfRmwuJFpTwU96M_kHBZIprVT28QDbtyAHvd2i3UwYM&s=R5QkXeE3lWHFMChF1lsVcqm9qC0FLsNg11I7frLRIsc&e=>
* Search Percy-L Discussion Archives: <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.ibiblio.org_wpercy_listserv_how-2Dto-2Dsearch-2Darchives.html&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=NfRmwuJFpTwU96M_kHBZIprVT28QDbtyAHvd2i3UwYM&s=GtqAtNF2tPY1YRmhxHuPmHFyKtqVX5HN3zvcfIQ4qr4&e=>
https://www.ibiblio.org/wpercy/listserv/how-to-search-archives.html<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.ibiblio.org_wpercy_listserv_how-2Dto-2Dsearch-2Darchives.html&d=DwQFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=NfRmwuJFpTwU96M_kHBZIprVT28QDbtyAHvd2i3UwYM&s=GtqAtNF2tPY1YRmhxHuPmHFyKtqVX5HN3zvcfIQ4qr4&e=>
THE WALKER PERCY PROJECT
* Visit The Walker Percy Project website: <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.ibiblio.org_wpercy&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=NfRmwuJFpTwU96M_kHBZIprVT28QDbtyAHvd2i3UwYM&s=226_4RfNC7ef0shkyka1vH3LP5hdfV5rWRqLl4F8MrU&e=>
https://www.ibiblio.org/wpercy<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.ibiblio.org_wpercy&d=DwQFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=NfRmwuJFpTwU96M_kHBZIprVT28QDbtyAHvd2i3UwYM&s=226_4RfNC7ef0shkyka1vH3LP5hdfV5rWRqLl4F8MrU&e=>
________________________________
This email has been scanned for spam and viruses by Proofpoint Essentials. Click here<https://us2.proofpointessentials.com/index01.php?mod_id=11&mod_option=logitem&mail_id=1667661362-JUpw_TevvCd2&r_address=kterrell%40stokeswagner.com&report=1>
to report this email as spam.
----------------------------------
USING PERCY-L
* Read Percy-L Charter and Policies:
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__ibiblio.org_wpercy_listserv_charter-2Dpolicies.html&d=DwICAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=NfRmwuJFpTwU96M_kHBZIprVT28QDbtyAHvd2i3UwYM&s=k-FB-RMezRRvdc7ZjrpKBzgCAPUKk9_T3XdjzU_jUw4&e=
* Manage Your Membership:
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lists.ibiblio.org_mailman_listinfo_percy-2Dl&d=DwICAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=NfRmwuJFpTwU96M_kHBZIprVT28QDbtyAHvd2i3UwYM&s=ZEFdQNaR1gtsVgcyLQf7qUj4YF7ECNIA42OFL1tGLxw&e=
* Submit a Post to Percy-L:
percy-l AT lists.ibiblio.org
* Contact the Listserv Manager:
percy.listserv.manager AT gmail.com
LISTSERV ARCHIVES
* View Percy-L Discussion Archives:
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lists.ibiblio.org_pipermail_percy-2Dl_&d=DwICAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=NfRmwuJFpTwU96M_kHBZIprVT28QDbtyAHvd2i3UwYM&s=R5QkXeE3lWHFMChF1lsVcqm9qC0FLsNg11I7frLRIsc&e=
* Search Percy-L Discussion Archives:
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.ibiblio.org_wpercy_listserv_how-2Dto-2Dsearch-2Darchives.html&d=DwICAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=NfRmwuJFpTwU96M_kHBZIprVT28QDbtyAHvd2i3UwYM&s=GtqAtNF2tPY1YRmhxHuPmHFyKtqVX5HN3zvcfIQ4qr4&e=
THE WALKER PERCY PROJECT
* Visit The Walker Percy Project website:
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.ibiblio.org_wpercy&d=DwICAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=NfRmwuJFpTwU96M_kHBZIprVT28QDbtyAHvd2i3UwYM&s=226_4RfNC7ef0shkyka1vH3LP5hdfV5rWRqLl4F8MrU&e=
Privileged Communication: This e-mail message and all attachments transmitted are legally privileged and confidential, and are intended only for the individual or entity to whom it is directed. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you
are hereby notified that any reading, dissemination, distribution, copying, or other use of this message or its attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by e-mail and delete this message
and all copies and backups thereof. Thank you.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/percy-l/attachments/20221105/ac4c5ec0/attachment.html>
------------------------------
Subject: Digest Footer
_______________________________________________
Percy-L mailing list
Percy-L AT lists.ibiblio.org
https://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/percy-l
------------------------------
End of Percy-L Digest, Vol 176, Issue 3
***************************************
This email has been scanned for spam and viruses by Proofpoint Essentials. Click
here to report this email as spam.
----------------------------------
USING PERCY-L
* Read Percy-L Charter and Policies: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__ibiblio.org_wpercy_listserv_charter-2Dpolicies.html&d=DwICAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=EawVZQm-EDbt97Ua9cDiS5kpc0NsgxaoUrEQ-fcx-TA&s=oV62fb9CxltJNu9qjfbkBTEKZgo16oC83XgUcxog9Rg&e=
* Manage Your Membership: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lists.ibiblio.org_mailman_listinfo_percy-2Dl&d=DwICAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=EawVZQm-EDbt97Ua9cDiS5kpc0NsgxaoUrEQ-fcx-TA&s=p6wpjNCpxTSifLlOKwZxqBb-5KgpVUeoVXWMt_ilOdg&e=
* Submit a Post to Percy-L: percy-l AT lists.ibiblio.org
* Contact the Listserv Manager: percy.listserv.manager AT gmail.com
LISTSERV ARCHIVES
* View Percy-L Discussion Archives: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lists.ibiblio.org_pipermail_percy-2Dl_&d=DwICAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=EawVZQm-EDbt97Ua9cDiS5kpc0NsgxaoUrEQ-fcx-TA&s=OORvoYwt-4n2OS_a0iIYO4qFYiLwxHhvZBqxAjYWJRw&e=
* Search Percy-L Discussion Archives: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.ibiblio.org_wpercy_listserv_how-2Dto-2Dsearch-2Darchives.html&d=DwICAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=EawVZQm-EDbt97Ua9cDiS5kpc0NsgxaoUrEQ-fcx-TA&s=xcnFZDhIAiTTsDGHERaB3qGanCKcSOipW3aq0FlYtzI&e=
THE WALKER PERCY PROJECT
* Visit The Walker Percy Project website: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.ibiblio.org_wpercy&d=DwICAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=MPqL-JqzKEP1_tqQMCtzQEIJ8sNv19st3TM2Q1X2TCU&m=EawVZQm-EDbt97Ua9cDiS5kpc0NsgxaoUrEQ-fcx-TA&s=HWIqj210fP7iDHnjynXmvHE_bas33eu4XEC8LZ-6X18&e=
|
