Interview with Jonathan Lethem

PASADENA WEEKLY'S PRIME PICK 11-10-11

"Another side"

Author Jonathan Lethem reflects on ‘The Ecstasy of Influence’ at Vromans in Pasadena

Meanwhile, David Cronenberg is turning Lethem's novel "As She Climbed Across the Table" into a film

(Photo: Justin Chapman and Jonathan Lethem, 11-15-11)

By Carl Kozlowski and Justin Chapman

Author of eight novels, a novella, three story collections and five nonfiction tomes — not to mention editor of five anthologies — Jonathan Lethem is literally bursting with ideas. His new book, “The Ecstasy of Influence,” is a collection of nonfiction essays in which he covers an eclectic array of topics, among them sex in cinema, graffiti, Bob Dylan, cyber-culture, Sept. 11 and Norman Mailer.

Lethem will be discussing and signing the personal and surprisingly candid tome Tuesday at Vroman’s Bookstore, one of only four promotional appearances he’s making to plug the book.

“About a third of the book is new, since I’ve accumulated all this stuff that didn’t all belong together,” the New York native, who teaches at Pomona College, explained in a phone interview while he was in New York. “This is a collection of all the things I’ve done that aren’t fiction, such as film criticism and music reviews. Most of the new writing is along the lines of thinking about the role of the fiction writer. The whole book adds up to a writer avoiding his work.”

Looking forward, Lethem acknowledges that his status as the father of two young sons will undoubtedly have an impact on his future works. But for now, he’s content to keep his mind free, thoughts flowing and fingertips racing across computer keyboards.

“I’m sure fatherhood will affect me, but I’m a very slow moving creature,” says Lethem. “My influences, the people I meet and interact with, the places I live in and visit, tend to be reflected very slowly over many years. I wasn’t able to write anything meaningful about growing up in Brooklyn until I was in my 30s. So fatherhood hasn’t really seeped up yet; it’s somewhere in the unconscious, waiting to make itself known.”

Jonathan Lethem discussed and signed “The Ecstasy of Influence” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena.

PW: You’ve written essays and reviews and introductions, but obviously the bulk of your work has been fiction. Tell me about your new book, the collection of nonfiction essays. Are they all new works?

LETHEM: No, about a third is new. I’ve accumulated all this stuff that didn’t all belong together. This is a collection of all the things I’ve done that aren’t fiction, such as film criticism, music reviews. Most of new writing is along the lines of thinking about the role of the fiction writer. The whole book adds up to a writer avoiding his work.

How much of yourself or people you know would you say is in your fiction? Are there some novels that have more of yourself in them than others, for example, maybe “Fortress of Solitude” or “As She Climbed Across the Table”? Or do you try to stay away from that in your novels?

It definitely varies. A lot of it tends to be unexpectedly personal, I tend to bring my own emotions into the mix. I have to; it’s the habit of the novel.

How do you usually approach a new novel? Do you center it around a specific idea or do you start with character compositions or themes?

Novels come out of a lot of different things. Usually they have to sit for a couple years before I can begin writing them, then I have an idea of a larger situation, something I’m expecting these characters to do, where I expect them to go. I’ve written a lot of different novels, and writing them has been different, too. The way I approach them is different as well.

Do you still have the website where you invited other writers, filmmakers, poets, artists, and others to turn some of your short stories into reworked pieces?

Yes, it’s still there. I haven’t added new material, but every now and then I hear from someone who has done something.

[More info on the aforementioned website: “The Promiscuous Materials Project”

http://www.jonathanlethem.com/promiscuous.html

http://www.jonathanlethem.com/promiscuous_stories.html

http://www.jonathanlethem.com/promiscuous_songs.html

http://www.jonathanlethem.com/promiscuous_projects.html

http://www.jonathanlethem.com/promiscuous_further.html

"A couple of years ago, after writing a piece for Harper's called "The Ecstasy of Influence", I decided to start giving away some of my stories to filmmakers or dramatists to adapt. (I also write some song lyrics and invited musicians to help themselves to those.) You can see some of the results here. The project continues, and anyone should feel free to leap in. The stories are available non-exclusively -- meaning other people may be working from the same material -- and the cost is a dollar apiece. There’s a simple written agreement to sign, imposing a couple of minor restrictions. That's it -- once you've paid your dollar and signed the agreement, you're free to adapt or mutate the story as you please, for whatever purpose, whimsical, commercial or otherwise." -J.L.]

The idea behind that project was to make a statement on how you feel about copyright laws, right?

Yeah, I had a period where I was interested in advocacy for current extent and corporate interest regarding copyright law, but I’m not calling for the outright abolition of copyright. I believe cultural activity exists in a place not always adequately described by legal notions of copyright. Art is made of other art. I was trying to find a way to put my money where I mouth was, that's why I created that Web site.

What do you think is the right balance between an individual's intellectual property rights and public domain?

It’s probably not nameable by any one principle like that, there are specific circumstances for different people and works. One thing I'll say is it doesn’t make sense for a dead person to still be in control of their works.

Do you think people have purely original ideas anymore? A lot of material these days seems to be regurgitated ideas that have already been done.

Creativity and originality have flowed in and out of remixing and intertextuality for a long time. Originality's still possible, and in the past artists have always existed in this beautifully compromised state; they used other people's work as well.

Has fatherhood with two sons changed your writing at all, or what interests you to write about?

I’m sure it will. I’m a very slow moving creature. My influences, the people I meet and interact with, the places I live in and visit, tend to be reflected very slowly over many years. I wasn’t able to write anything meaningful about growing up in Brooklyn til I was in my 30s. So fatherhood hasn’t really seeped up yet; it's somewhere in the unconscious, waiting to make itself known.

Are you still teaching? What do you teach and where? Do you get a lot of students who are fans of your novels?

That’s what brings me to southern California. I have a great job at Pomona College, teaching creative writing and literature seminars within the English department.

Are there any updates on filmmakers turning any of your books into movies?

These things come and go. I haven’t seen a real result, but David Cronenberg is trying to do “As She Climbed Across the Table,” one of my earlier novels. I’m rooting really hard for it. I think David Cronenberg is one of the best living filmmakers. I know they have a production deal and a screenplay, so it’s percolating, and they’re making some progress. I don’t have any creative input on it, though.