I'm reading a new release of non-fiction essays by Saul Bellow. I had heard the name, but had never read any of his fiction and I am very much enjoying his non-fiction writing.
Interestingly enough, twice now I've read a phrase he uses, "...Studebaker and Bendix..." in 2 different essays (one in 1952, one in 1957) that he uses to describe American Corporate presence. In both cases he considers them icons of industrial or corporate will or energy; which, along with the forces of Higher Education, popular culture and such, are all energies against which the individual struggles to be heard against. That the novel voice of the individual which desires to be heard, is competing with these larger forces as to what ideas are important.
I generally do much better with my writing when I'm railing against something than when I try to summarize.
I haven't read all the essays, so I'm curious now to notice if he uses the phrase again. I suppose that, since he felt a strong affinity to Chicago, that might be why he ascribed Studebaker to a status of bedrock corporate America as opposed to an auto manufacturer from Detroit. Where was Bendix located? I didn't take it as a blatantly negative association, his use of the 2 companies, more so that they were emblematic of American Business.
Discuss.
Interestingly enough, twice now I've read a phrase he uses, "...Studebaker and Bendix..." in 2 different essays (one in 1952, one in 1957) that he uses to describe American Corporate presence. In both cases he considers them icons of industrial or corporate will or energy; which, along with the forces of Higher Education, popular culture and such, are all energies against which the individual struggles to be heard against. That the novel voice of the individual which desires to be heard, is competing with these larger forces as to what ideas are important.
I generally do much better with my writing when I'm railing against something than when I try to summarize.
I haven't read all the essays, so I'm curious now to notice if he uses the phrase again. I suppose that, since he felt a strong affinity to Chicago, that might be why he ascribed Studebaker to a status of bedrock corporate America as opposed to an auto manufacturer from Detroit. Where was Bendix located? I didn't take it as a blatantly negative association, his use of the 2 companies, more so that they were emblematic of American Business.
Discuss.
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