Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Tuesday, February 4, 2003

7:30 p.m. - Lee Chapel

        Courtesy of Law News (Ryan Anderson, '05L)

        From rural Indiana as a boy, to Dresden, Germany as a soldier, and even New York City as an author, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.’s life and writings have certainly made him an interesting character in the story of American literature. His speech in the Lee Chapel on February 4th entitled “How to Get a Job Like Mine,” merely reinforced that fact.
        At eighty, Vonnegut still smokes unfiltered cigarettes, and speaks with quick wit and great bravado. He also speaks without fear. However, at his age and with his experience what is there really left for him to fear? More noticeably, he is unapologetic about his notions or his candid presentation, and that is what makes him so unique and wonderful: purely Vonnegut.
        After 14 novels, several plays, critical essays, and numerous short stories, Vonnegut decided not to publish anything new for the remainder of his life. Despite this retreat from the spotlight, Vonnegut remains a recognizable face in American culture. (These days, even a 45-minute speech by Vonnegut demands a price of $25,000! Certainly, his popularity is not waning.)

             A packed Lee Chapel awaits Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.'s speech

        Vonnegut claims he began writing because it was “easy to do  . . . it was my gift . . . I was born to do it.” Although most readers, casual or fanatical, recognize Vonnegut for his seminal work Slaughterhouse Five, Vonnegut said he considers Cat’s Cradle the “flagship work” of his career.
        However, the events giving inspiration to Slaughterhouse Five persist. Vonnegut’s vision of war as the most “disgusting, soul robbing . . . endeavor,” most likely stems from his own experience in World War II and the fire-bombing of Dresden, Germany, which became the basis for the anti-war novel.
        The seemingly impending war with Iraq brings out Vonnegut’s vehement emotion on war and death. Speaking of the conflict he said, “It’s the most horrible thing going on right now.” War’s absurdity is comparable, according to Vonnegut, to a drunken cowboy telling his group of comrades, “We’re all going into town to get syphilis.”  
        Nor is Vonnegut shy about his feelings on the president when he refers to Bush as a “childlike President” who was “installed in power by a Mickey Mouse coup d’etat.”
        But Vonnegut does not limit his colorful comments to politics and war. As a writer, he instructs a room full of undergrads with the only advice, “Don’t use semi-colons. They stand for nothing . . . they only show you’ve been to college.”
        He follows this by commenting, “All American literature is about how bad it is to be American.” A list ensues, including the Scarlet Letter, Death of a Salesman and Moby Dick.

        Vonnegut believes America today is a “racist country, as we size each other up by our last name and hometown.” He even believes the German sounding ‘Von’ in his own last name “put a crimp in my popularity,” since there lingers, as he perceives it, a strong anti-German sentiment in America. (Vonnegut’s name actually comes from a stream outside of Münster.)
        Even given all of the offhand comments, Vonnegut is adamant that people need to express themselves through artistic endeavors of any kind. “Practicing an art is a way to make your soul grow,” he said. From a very basic level he explained, “The act of creation . . .” it brings “something into the world that wasn’t here before.” Vonnegut lives by these words himself.
        In addition to writing, Vonnegut has become an avid artist, sculpting abstract designs and painting rudimentary self-portraits and various other objects with distinct style. He claims to enjoy this work just as much as writing. This self-proclaimed humanist even jokes that he sometimes feels “the only proof of the existence of God is music.”
        An inspiration to many, Vonnegut’s own inspirations are numerous. Kilgore Trout, his famous literary alter-ego, was inspired by fellow science-fiction writer and friend Theodore Sturgeon. “I thought it was funny to be named after a fish,” said Vonnegut
These days, Vonnegut not only gives speeches, he also lends his artistic ability and popularity to help raise money for Skate Park in Northhampton (SPIN). T-shirts featuring Vonnegut riding a skateboard on the moon and one which brandishes his original artwork, are sold with the profits benefiting the SPIN cause. Vonnegut claims he got involved with the group because, “My daughter lives there and my grandson at the age of ten got busted for skateboarding.” 

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