University of Virginia Library

Novelist Expounds Upon Personal Writing Philosophy

By STEVE GRIMWOOD

"I try to write more like a good citizen
than an artist."

So runs the central writing philosophy
of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., who spoke to a
standing room only crowd in Old Cabell
Hall Sunday night, and later conversed

Photo by Charley Sands

Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Author Of "Slaughterhouse Five"

Spoke To Standing Room Only Crowd At Old Cabell Hall

with several smaller groups of students
yesterday morning.

Mr. Vonnegut is the now well-known
author of six novels; his rise from
underground fame chiefly attributed to
the critical acclaim given to his latest
novel, "Slaughterhouse Five." Some of
his earlier works include "Sirens of
Titan," "Cat's Cradle," and "Player
Piano."

Giving a decidedly rambling talk, Mr.
Vonnegut covered a variety of topics in
his Sunday night lecture. Starting
logically with his childhood, he
reminisced on the Depression and how
"sherry and Laurel and Hardy pulled me
through."

"How I Got To Be Famous" was the
next subject. His simple explanation was
that whenever he was asked to comment
on someone's forthcoming book, he never
knocked one. Consequently his name
appeared under some innocuous
comment ("Superb"-Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.)
on a great many book jackets.

'Entirely Just War'

Jumping into more serious areas, he
described World War II as an entirely just
war and thus the basis of America's
biggest problems, militarism and the
overpowering American idea that we are
always right.

Prefacing his remarks on "Revolution"
with the comment "I'm full of shit on
politics," he nevertheless theorized that a
revolution is not possible in this country.
'Tanks really work, no one can stop
them." The only technique, he
concluded, would be a general strike.

Psychiatric Visit

After "Slaughterhouse Five," Vonnegut
suffered from the "big click," and was
unproductive for several years. He told of
visiting a psychiatrist and complaining of
depression over the state of the world.
The psychiatrist recommended that he
stopped drinking, and "I discovered I was
the biggest hypocrite in the world."

But this statement was more a lectorial
liberty than an actuality. A few
comments in his lecture and a great many
of the ideas offered during his subsequent
seminar and interview revealed that Mr.
Vonnegut is far from a hypocrite. He
considers himself an artist; and, as he
said, "The arts should serve society."

Seminar Session

During the seminar, Mr. Vonnegut's
manner changed radically, enhancing his
point that lecturing is detrimental to an
author's character, causing changes which
are not beneficial. On the platform, he is
a shaggy, stooped figure who seems much
younger than his 48 years. He seems
somewhat stage-struck, as if he is not
used to communicating verbally with
other people.

Very Verbose

In a seminar setting, he is relaxed and
extremely verbose, the Indianapolis
chemist becomes the New York artist.
Topics touched upon during the lecture,
such as the function of art in society and
the cause of America's social ills, were
discussed in greater detail.

Mr. Vonnegut feels that American
writers are more socially concerned than
their European counterparts. The great
majority of them are self-taught, working
their way up through the ranks of
journalism or magazine work. Also, their
social concern tends to create a greater
discouragement among them.

Every artist or writer needs a streak of
paranoia to keep him going. He claims

Photo by Charley Sands

sleep would be his major occupation if he
did not have a good healthy fear of what
he is writing about. He writes about
American society.

As for his own creative talents, he
attributes it all to "automatic writing.' "I
see whatever comes out of my typewriter
and edit it." He regards his novels as a
"series of jokes", strung together with a
story line that develops itself.
"Slaughterhouse Five," he gave as an
example, was edited down from over one
thousand pages.

The source of the ever growing
"ennui' in America Mr. Vonnegut
attributes to the break up of traditional
folk societies. In the past there was a
group of about one hundred people