| Why I don't like modern or "Classic" Literature |
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For people who know me, the statement that I’m not a fan of a lot of “classic” literature is a common place in my world. This is simply because it’s true, I really don’t. And it took me a while to figure out why. I was reading the latest issue of WIRED (16.02) and I came across and article that finally opened my eyes to why I feel the way I do.
Basically the reason why I don’t like MODERN literature is because it’s repetitive. It’s all been done before. I mean there is only so many times I can read about Joe Schmoe living an ordinary life, having an ordinary relationship with ordinary sex, meantime maintaining an ordinary job and dying an ordinary death. There is the definite possibility we have taken every option available to describing everyday life an exhausted then. And I do believe this HAS happened.
So where do I turn?
SciFi and fantasy mostly. Both genres explore the possibility of what would happen if you added a factor unknown to the world. These books have infinite possibilities simple because we don’t really know what would happen if say…everything in the world could be copied like Mp3 files. Anyone know?…didn’t thinks o. But people are always willing to try like in Cory Doctorow’s After the Siege novella. But while one person may have all ready written something about the subject, the story idea has not been exhausted because there are 1000+ new ways to tackle the idea. And as long as the stories are well written you probably won’t get bored.
SciFi especially is the though provoking genre of today. Joe Schmoe’s monotonous life doesn’t make people think at all, but Captain so-and-so of the ship saving the world from alien invasion is not only thought provoking, but exciting. Exciting makes people read more, when people read more they become better educated, when that happens everyone wins. GLEE!
Now as for why I’m not particularly fond of “classic” literature:
It’s because it’s over analyzed. I mean, I don’t honestly believe that most of the stuff my teachers tell me that the author has consciously put into a book was actually purposely put in there. And even if it is, more often than not it is so outdated that it doesn’t really relate to me and then I no longer care. Sorry to disappoint people…but it’s the truth.
The even if I wanted to read the book for fun, the teachers tell me that I HAVE to read the book and then give me a time limit. That turns me off completely. I don’t want to be told I have to do anything, and forcing me to read it in a certain amount of time doesn’t give me the opportunity to get into a book I might have otherwise enjoyed. I’ve noticed through survey of my friend, peers, and the adults around me, that most people wouldn’t read any of these “classic” books if the weren’t forced to. I wonder what that says about the books.
Of course this isn’t to say that I don’t like any “classic” books, I am in fact a huge fan of The Catcher in the Rye. But I just think that so many of them are overrated.
Your thoughts?
Love,
AcidRayne
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