Reading too deeply into the inclusion of Chopin
While struggling through Mumbo Jumbo, with all of its unconventional quirks and additions, I began to think it would be much easier to simply understand each choice with regard to its writing and composition as intentional. Why are there two chapter 52s? Why is there a chapter before the publishing information? Why are there pictures that often don’t directly relate to the contents? I really can’t say, but I convinced myself there is a distinct reason, even if that reason is as simple as “for the sake of rebellion”. I still think much of the time that quality of ordered chaos and purposeful orchestration on behalf of Reed is what makes Mumbo Jumbo such a revolutionary piece. Naturally then, in chapter 51 when the background music to the fake Harlem Renaissance celebration party was a Chopin piece, I guessed that there could be a reason for this- a sort of hint for people with music history knowledge to understand the intentions of this phony party, even if in the most subt...