--- In
rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, "Kerry J. Schooley"
<gsp.schoo@...> wrote:
<<I agree with you and Jim that literature is what gets
written down and read (or heard, or seen in the case of
performance) but there's no point being blind to the fact
that many others use it as a term to mean some work has, or
should have lasting value. In that context, I think of
literature is another genre, primarily appreciated by those
who value highly descriptive characterization. There are
exceptions to that too, I expect.>>
Yes, unfortunately that view of "literature" (or Literature)
is common, though books don't come with a label that tells
you whether it is or isn't Literature. The question of
lasting value is slippery... and impossible to know when you
read a recent book. Each generation makes its literary icons,
many of whom are later thrown out by later generations. The
question of lasting value is also immaterial to the reader,
isn't it?
And, to be cynical, what in life has lasting value? Not to
mention that memory is notoriously unreliable, more fiction
than reality... which is why certain memoirs or supposedly
factual accounts make for such great fiction.
Best,
mrt
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 02 Nov 2007 EDT