Mumbo Jumbo Final Thoughts

It's hard to summarize this book to be honest I can not definitively draw any statement from Reed's writing. It's all a bunch of small parts that add up to a larger picture, take the talking android and the Idea of the quote saying Museum's are where "art goes to die". Both are statements on culture but no the exact same thing.

This is half the reason I love Reed, he doesn't feel that the complicated problems and ideas he addresses can be broken down into a simple sentence I could spout and summarize his ideas with. Mumbo Jumbo's not just about black culture, western civilization, or Jes-Grew it's a combination of the three blended together into a delicious literary smoothie, with undertones of racial commentary.

So If I were to attempt to make a thesis statement on Reed's behalf it would go something like this: Ishmael Reed in Mumbo Jumbo attempt's to break down the energy and idea of a cultural phenomenon using Jes-Grew and the tension between White and Black to gives us a picture of the defining principles behind all historical conflicts.

But I can't say I entirely agree with my made up theses, it once again makes it oversimplified which is obvious if you read Mumbo Jumbo Reed comically exaggerates everything, no he's not saying that white men cant take part in a black movement. He's showing the ridiculosness of most of the whites (or anyone in any movement that they arent really a part of) ina black movement. Making his points with his sledgehammer rather than a chisel. Which to be honest will leave a much large imprint on the reader

The organic nature of culture

The more I read Mumbo-Jumbo the more I feel as if I am reading a critique of western culture. In particular the way America is willing to try and reproduce any aspect of an upcoming culture the find fascinating and often the way we manage to butcher it.

Take the chitterling switch that occurs early on, rent parties being a real part of a cultural movement captivated those that weren't a part of it (White upper-class America) that they decided to try and reproduce. Of course without the nature in which the Rent Parties naturally occurred you get a cruel mockery of what they represent, essentially the black-face of the rent parties.

The other instance in my mind that stands out, of reproduced culture becoming a mockery of the original natural movement is Reed's depiction of a museum being the place art goes to die. Museums often try to capture the past and in the effort to do so restrict the culture they've capture to the past. I can't tell whether Reed's mocking museums inability to capture a whole movement here, or once again the impossibility of one person trying to understand a culture they aren't a part of.

Ragtime final thoughts

By the time I had finished ragtime I realized that reading the book in my mind gave me a more accurate picture of the early 20th century. Even though none of the situations may have been 100% accurate the accuracy with which Doctorow handles them teaches you as much about history as any paper on the period could. Granted you won't get a P.H.D. level of understanding from books such as ragtime, but for the plebeian with a basic grasp of history Ragtime is perfect. Because for me the best understanding of history isn't a string of facts, but a feeling for the time understanding why people did what they did rather than what happened with no grasp of the consequences or motivation behind it.

Take Tateh, the man is not a real historical figure but you can see how a man such as him would be attracted to Emma Goldman and various socialist movements. Understanding why these organizations were so influential in the working class will defiantly give you a better picture of the time period.

You can even see the perspective of the other side with Henry Ford and his invention of the production line, and the generally inhumane view he had of his workers. Giving me a picture I would be unable to receive in a textbook.

I don't know if the is perspective adds to the "truth" of the fiction or not. I wish I had the time to analyze the book historically and see if Doctorow's portrait of America is accurate.

Mumbo Jumbo initial impressions

I am utterly confused, totally and utterly confused by this book. I catch glimmers of the plot occasionally coming away form each nights reading with vague ideas of the reading rather than a plot summary. I like to think this is attributable to the chaos of the human experience, but on the other hand I don't feel like I have the ability to assert that life is inherently chaotic and have had no proof from the novel other than my confusion making me think I may just be ignorant.

I do like the writing though, the joviality that each passage is written with is one of he main reasons I am able to make it through each nights reading. The topic matter lends itself to such a style as well the voodoo belief system and New Orleans culture seem to fit perfectly into Reed's writing style. I also enjoy the randomly inserted uncaptioned photos and the vague relevance they often hold.

I am unsure as to whether or no the book will take on the form of a plot soon, the current lack of one is to say the least confusing. It may just be the overwhelming process of meeting each character in such a disjointed manner. Despite the density of the book I do rather enjoy and look forward to finishing it.