Reading 1001 discussion

Review thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

1. How does Myra's transformation from Myron, and her subsequent aggressive assertion of her identity, challenge traditional notions of gender and sexuality?

2. How does Myra use, or distort, the mythos of classic 1940s Hollywood films to interpret her own life and actions?

3. Is Myra a reliable narrator? How do her "notebook entries" shape our understanding of the events at the Academy?

4. In what ways does the novel use "camp" as a literary device?

5. How does Myra’s "reactionary radicalism" function in the text?

6. How does the narrative handle the tension between the persona of Myra and the memory of Myron?

7. How does the resolution of the novel affect the reader's interpretation of her earlier actions?

8. Are you going to see the movie?

1. How does Myra's transformation from Myron, and her subsequent aggressive assertion of her identity, challenge traditional notions of gender and sexuality?

She is 'loud and proud" and takes no prisoners in her approach, which of course is not expected (and often not appreciated) in women. The men she deals with (in the main) are completely invested in the patriarchy and have difficulty with Myra's assertiveness.

2. How does Myra use, or distort, the mythos of classic 1940s Hollywood films to interpret her own life and actions?

The frequent references to the Hollywood films of the 1940s seems to be Vidal's way of signalling that there is a queer subtext. Myra (and Myron) would of course be aware of that and probably would like that subtext to be more overt in her life.

3. Is Myra a reliable narrator? How do her "notebook entries" shape our understanding of the events at the Academy?

I would say absolutely not. She really is our only window into the Academy and she does not paint a flattering portrait.

4. In what ways does the novel use "camp" as a literary device?

I noticed that the beginning of the novel the tone was very camp. This may have been Vidal's way of 'setting the stage'. The reader knows they may be in for a wild ride. As well the camp tone indicates that we are in the presence of an unreliable narrator.

6. How does the narrative handle the tension between the persona of Myra and the memory of Myron?

Myra tells us she is a woman in charge, unafraid and assertive. Through a few references (mostly via Buck) we are told that Myron was weak, ineffectual and hard done by.

7. How does the resolution of the novel affect the reader's interpretation of her earlier actions?

I think the resolution is the weakest part of this novel. It would be interesting to know why Vidal didn't see fit to have Myra finish out the story. The end itself is, of course, extremely satirical so maybe this was a way for Vidal to hit even more targets.

8. Are you going to see the movie?

No. I read it is quite bad!

1. How does Myra's transformation from Myron, and her subsequent aggressive assertion of her identity, challenge traditional notions of gender and sexuality?
She wants to overthrow masculine dominance in sex and everywhere else.

2. How does Myra use, or distort, the mythos of classic 1940s Hollywood films to interpret her own life and actions?
Myra models her looks, voice, and behavior on movie stars of the classical era. It’s how she’s learned “femininity,” whether she’s taking on a maternal role with Mary-Ann or being an efficient businesswoman like Rosalind Russell.

3. Is Myra a reliable narrator? How do her "notebook entries" shape our understanding of the events at the Academy?
No, she’s not reliable. For example, she assumes all students at the academy adore her and her class, but we never get any other perspective. Rusty’s attitude toward her is particularly mysterious. She assumes he loathes her and the experience of being penetrated by her. But it’s possible he’s attracted to her and enjoys the act. He does come out as gay later in life.

4. In what ways does the novel use "camp" as a literary device?
Camp is exaggerated and celebrates artifice. Drag queens are often camp in the way they display over-the-top femininity (massive amounts of makeup, elaborate updos, e.g.). There is also a recognition that gender and class are about performance. Although Myra never describes her outfits, hair, or makeup in much detail, I assume she is very camp, as she models herself on stars of the 1930s-40s.

5. How does Myra’s "reactionary radicalism" function in the text?
I think this refers to her desire to destroy traditional masculinity. In theory, this is why she wants to take over the academy and “possess” Rusty.

6. How does the narrative handle the tension between the persona of Myra and the memory of Myron?
On one hand, Myra seems to worship the memory of “Myron,” wanting to complete his work on Parker Tyler and classical Hollywood. On the other hand, she recognizes that he was (as Diane puts it above), ineffectual, largely controlled by his penis. That’s why she had to become Myra. She seems to have assumed that women are not slaves to their sexual desires the way men are, and her intense attraction to Mary-Ann takes her by surprise.

7. How does the resolution of the novel affect the reader's interpretation of her earlier actions?
On a literal level, the reader might assume that the gender reassignment surgery was a mistake and that Myron is happy in his monogamous, heterosexual marriage with Mary Ann. But I think Diane is right – it’s meant to be a satire of the traditional happy ending.

8. Are you going to see the movie?
No because I’ve heard it’s absolutely terrible. Camille Paglia’s introduction describes it as “disastrous.”

1. How does Myra's transformation from Myron, and her subsequent aggressive assertion of her identity, challenge traditional notions of gender and sexuality?
Fluidity.. see #36. "where all bodies and all minds will one day be at the disposal of everyone"

Myron as Myra becomes aggressive even though aggression is generally a male behavior in sex. Myra wants to humiliate and damage the male.

2. How does Myra use, or distort, the mythos of classic 1940s Hollywood films to interpret her own life and actions?

this is a spoof about Hollywood. Unfortunately I did not know most of not all these shows and actors. I've not been that interested in Hollywood.

3. Is Myra a reliable narrator? How do her "notebook entries" shape our understanding of the events at the Academy? The notebooks do provide a snapshot of "her view" at the time, but doesn't make it any less unreliable as a narrator

4. In what ways does the novel use "camp" as a literary device?

. As a literary device, it is often used to subvert traditional social norms, gender roles, and conventions of "serious" literature, treating life and art as a performance. Myra as a transgender woman. Caricature of classic Hollywood (the forties). It's mean, an assault on gender and sexual relations. Sex is only portrayed as power over another and not in a favorable relationship between two people who love each other.

5. How does Myra’s "reactionary radicalism" function in the text?



6. How does the narrative handle the tension between the persona of Myra and the memory of Myron?

7. How does the resolution of the novel affect the reader's interpretation of her earlier actions?

too me, it just reinforced my perspective of gender confusion

8. Are you going to see the movie? most likely not. I suspect it would be pornographic. I hated reading the details of the rape. I

I think the actresses as Myra and Letitia (Rachel Welch and Mae West) and Mary Ann as Farrah Fawcett and Tom Sellick) very interesting. A 1970s film with maybe some experimental nature that just didn't quite work. I think there was a lot of bad stuff in the early 70s.

1. How does Myra's transformation from Myron, and her subsequent aggressive assertion of her identity, challenge traditional notions of gender and sexuality?
Myra has rejected Myron as being too weak and ineffectual. Myra combines an exaggeratedly feminine physical aspect (large breasts, film star glamour etc) with behaviours that are more typically associated with men. She is attracted to both men and women, prepared to be dominant and even brutal. She is therefore actively attacking the traditional.

2. How does Myra use, or distort, the mythos of classic 1940s Hollywood films to interpret her own life and actions?
Myra talks of Hollywood and particularly MGM as her “rightful kingdom.” She is modelling herself on screen icons as someone exceptional, to be admired and followed. This then allows her to model the behaviour she wants to convey, for example a trusted mother figure to MaryAnn or a friend to Letitia.

3. Is Myra a reliable narrator? How do her "notebook entries" shape our understanding of the events at the Academy?
She is not reliable, her interpretations of the students responses to her may well be wrong as we only have her word for them. Uncle Buck’s chapters show a different view.

4. In what ways does the novel use "camp" as a literary device?
Camp is about exaggeration and attitude and Myra’s persona and behaviour are exaggerated. There is also a sly ironic tone that runs through her chapters.

6. How does the narrative handle the tension between the persona of Myra and the memory of Myron?
Myra takes a position of exaggerated devotion to Myron, professing admiration of his literary work on film stars and presenting herself to Uncle Buck as a grieving widow. At the same time, she acknowledges that she needed to destroy him, that Myron was weak and ruled by his penis and sexual desires. This tension also comes out through Dr Montag who liked Myron and doesn’t wholly agree with Myra’s approach.

7. How does the resolution of the novel affect the reader's interpretation of her earlier actions?
It is a kind of ironic version of a happy ending. It undermines the feminist idea, Rusty finds stardom while the more talented Mary Ann settles for domestic life.

8. Are you going to see the movie?
No, I don’t watch many films anyway and I don’t like this enough to watch it. I am going to read Myron though.