Rewiring the Real: In Conversation with William Gaddis, Richard Powers, Mark Danielewski, and Don DeLillo (Religion, Culture, and Public Life Book 12)

Digital and electronic technologies that act as extensions of our bodies and minds are changing how we live, think, act, and write. Whether feared or desired, these innovations provoke emotions that have long fueled the religious imagination, suggesting the presence of a latent spirituality in an era mistakenly deemed secular and posthuman. William Gaddis, Richard Powers, Mark Danielewski, and Don DeLillo are American authors who thoroughly explore this phenomenon in their work. Engaging the works of each in conversation, Mark C. Taylor discusses their sophisticated representations of new media, communications, information, and virtual technologies and their transformative effects on the self and society. He focuses on Gaddis's __The Recognitions__, Powers's __Plowing the Dark__, Danielewski's __House of Leaves__, and DeLillo's __Underworld__, following the interplay of technology and religion in their narratives and their imagining of the transition from human to posthuman states. Their challenging ideas and inventive styles reveal the fascinating ways religious interests affect emerging technologies and how, in turn, these technologies guide spiritual aspirations. To read these novels from this perspective is to see them and the world anew. Digital and electronic technologies that act as extensions of our bodies and minds are changing how we live, think, act, and write. Some welcome these developments as bringing humans closer to unified consciousness and eternal life. Others worry that invasive globalized technologies threaten to destroy the self and the world. Whether feared or desired, these innovations provoke emotions that have long fueled the religious imagination, suggesting the presence of a latent spirituality in an era mistakenly deemed secular and posthuman. William Gaddis, Richard Powers, Mark Danielewski, and Don DeLillo are American authors who explore this phenomenon thoroughly in their work. Engaging the works of each in conversation, Mark C. Taylor discusses their sophisticated representations of new media, communications, information, and virtual technologies and their transformative effects on the self and society. He focuses on Gaddis's The Recognitions, Powers's Plowing the Dark, Danielewski's House of Leaves, and DeLillo's Underworld, following the interplay of technology and religion in their narratives and their imagining of the transition from human to posthuman states. Their challenging ideas and inventive styles reveal the fascinating ways religious interests affect emerging technologies and how, in turn, these technologies guide spiritual aspirations. To read these novels from this perspective is to see them and the world anew. Digital And Electronic Technologies That Act As Extensions Of Our Bodies And Minds Are Changing How We Live, Think, Act, And Write. Some Welcome These Developments As Bringing Humans Closer To Unified Consciousness And Eternal Life. Others Worry That Invasive Globalized Technologies Threaten To Destroy The Self And The World. Whether Feared Or Desired, These Innovations Provoke Emotions That Have Long Fueled The Religious Imagination, Suggesting The Presence Of A Latent Spirituality In An Era Mistakenly Deemed Secular And Posthuman. William Gaddis, Richard Powers, Mark Danielewski, And Don Delillo Are American Authors Who Explore This Phenomenon Thoroughly In Their Work. Engaging The Works Of Each In Conversation, Mark C. Taylor Discusses Their Sophisticated Representations Of New Media, Communications, Information, And Virtual Technologies And Their Transformative Effects On The Self And Society. He Focuses On Gaddis's The Recognitions, Powers's Plowing The Dark, Danielewski's House Of Leaves, And Delillo's Underworld, Following The Interplay Of Technology And Religion In Their Narratives And Their Imagining Of The Transition From Human To Posthuman States. Their Challenging Ideas And Inventive Styles Reveal The Fascinating Ways Religious Interests Affect Emerging Technologies And How, In Turn, These Technologies Guide Spiritual Aspirations. To Read These Novels From This Perspective Is To See Them And The World Anew.--publisher's Website. Counterfeiting Counterfeit Religion: William Gaddis, The Recognitions -- Mosaics: Richard Powers, Plowing The Dark -- Figuring Nothing: Mark Danielewski, House Of Leaves -- Holy Shit!:don Delillo, Underworld -- Concluding Unscientific Postscript: Two Styles Of The Philosophy Of Religion. Mark C. Taylor. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Digital and electronic technologies that act as extensions of our bodies and minds are changing how we live, think, act, and write. Some welcome these developments as bringing humans closer to unified consciousness and eternal life. Others worry that invasive globalized technologies threaten to destroy the self and the world. Whether feared or desired, these innovations provoke emotions that have long fueled the religious imagination, suggesting the presence of a latent spirituality in an era mistakenly deemed secular and posthuman. William Gaddis, Richard Powers, Mark Danielewski, and Don DeLillo are American authors who explore this phenomenon thoroughly in their work. Engaging the works of each in conversation, Mark C. Taylor discusses their sophisticated representations of new media, communications, information, and virtual technologies and their transformative effects on the self and society. He focuses on Gaddis's The Recognitions, Powers's Plowing the Dark, Danielewski's House of Leaves, and DeLillo's Underworld, following the interplay of technology and religion in their narratives and their imagining of the transition from human to posthuman states. Their challenging ideas and inventive styles reveal the fascinating ways religious interests affect emerging technologies and how, in turn, these technologies guide spiritual aspirations. To read these novels from this perspective is to see them and the world anew"-- Publisher's website Digital and electronic technologies that act as extensions of our bodies and minds are changing the way we live, think, act, and write. Some welcome these developments for bringing humans closer to unified consciousness and eternal life. Others worry invasive globalized technologies threaten to destroy the self and the world. Whether feared or desired, these innovations provoke emotions that have long fueled the religious imagination, suggesting the presence of a latent spirituality in an era mistakenly deemed secular and post-human Contents List of Illustrations neχus 1. Counterfeiting Counterfeit Religion 2. Mosaics: Richard Powers, Plowing the Dark 3. Figuring Nothing: Mark Danielewski, House of Leaves 4. “Holy Shit!”: Don DeLillo, Underworld 5. Concluding Unscientific Postscript: Two Styles of the Philosophy of Religion Acknowledgments Notes Index