RARA-AVIS: Re: The definition of literature

From: jimdohertyjr ( jimdohertyjr@yahoo.com)
Date: 02 Nov 2007


Miker,

Re your comment below:

> The idea that my usage is dismissive is correct in as
> much as calling Einstein a genius is being dismissive
> of other people.

Bad analogy. Calling Einstein a genius in the arena of science is no more dismissive of "other people" then calling Shakespeare a genius in the arena of stage drama is dismissive of other people. It's merely an objective recognition of genius.

On the other hand, saying that only nuclear physics is "real" science but chemistry, biology, astronomy, etc., are not; or that only Elizabethan tragedy is "real" drama but contemporary screenplays are not, would be dismissive in the same sense that saying "literature" is something other than genre fiction, and particularly something other than phenomenally successful genre fiction by unpretentious, blue-collar guys with political views that are out of favor in the Academy.

JIM DOHERTY



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