--- In
rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, Bruce Makous
<bruce@b...> wrote:
>
> With great respect to all, I would have to say that
the ongoing
> philosophical debate is what makes this list what it
is. It's
priceless
> stuff, and the passion with which opinions are
expressed makes it
better
> than any TV tennis match. I love having a front row
seat, and each
time
> there is a go round about definitions of hardboiled
or noir or
> whatever, we end up in at least a slightly different
locale. I think
> that proves this is the cutting edge.
Bruce, I don't think fighting over defitions of words is
cutting edge at all. In the past I would have agreed with
you, but I'm off the crack now and I am able to disagree with
the zeal of a rehabbed junkie, six months clean.
Defitions of noir, hardboiled and whatever are like agents.
We probably do need them, and they are great if we keep in
mind WHY we need them, and don't let them get too powerful.
But they ain't the thing itself. The thing itself is the
writing, and the writing has nothing to do with agents and
definitions. If arguing about defitions were cutting edge,
then it would enable authors to go away and hit the keyboard
with renewed focus, inspiration, or just *something*. But it
doesn't. (Or if it does, I don't think it should.) That would
be like saying: "Now I know what noir is, I can write a much
better noir novel. OK, let's see... dark and sinister... dark
and..."
Maybe I'm wrong? Maybe that is how it works for some writers?
But if it is, I'm no part of it. It's about the individual
books, not the perceived genre or movement. You take the
books (or films) away, noir becomes the French word for
black. (Of course, someone would come along and argue that
it's actually dark grey.)
Hey, I just noticed something - I'm arguing about
definitions! And I thought I was clean for good...
Cheers,
Charlie.
www.charliewilliams.net
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 05 Oct 2005 EDT