Description

In answer to a question from an unknown interviewer (Jim) working with McCaffery, Katz talks about his books Florry of Washington Heights and Swanny’s Ways. McCaffery and Katz discuss Katz’s interest in quantum mechanics and literary devices. Jim asks about global politics, and Katz mentions the Korean War in Swanny’s Ways. McCaffery and Katz discuss how the threat of nuclear war in the 1950s. They talk about the process of writing Swanny’s Ways and “West Side Story.” Influences on Wier & Pouce include hanging out in jazz clubs in New York and appreciating the contributions of Black musicians. Jim asks about using the alphabet to treat relationships in the book. Katz expects to use the same device in his next book, tentatively titled Double Exposure. Katz discusses Tolstoy’s War and Peace and Wier & Pouce. McCaffery and Katz discuss elimination and substitution of traditional compositional elements such as character. Katz says his novels are “politically engaged.” McCaffery and Katz discuss his piece on the death of John F. Kennedy. They discuss Katz’s 1977 visit to San Diego State University. Jim and Katz discuss how his work in Tai chi influenced his writing. McCaffery says about “Three Essays” and Katz talks about the use of the second person. Katz discusses contemporary music, including meeting Tony Scott. At the beginning of the next tape, Katz and McCaffery discuss jazz and using time as a formal element in Creamy & Delicious. McCaffery and Katz discuss markets and “serious” writing. Jim asks about roots, and Katz says he is “still a New Yorker” and references Florry of Washington Heights Katz discusses his process. McCaffery asks whether the incidents in Stolen Stories actually happened, and Katz says yes. Katz lists contemporary writers he likes, including Jorge Luis Borges, Jim Thompson, Robert Coover, and Marianne Hauser. Asked about his attitude toward women, Katz discusses this in personal terms and about characters. McCaffery asks about multimedia performances. On the last side, McCaffery and Katz again discuss images. Katz sees value in “forcing the reader to imagine other possibilities.” McCaffery mentions the interview as if it were going into “the book,” and also speaks of The Paris Review.