An Another Note Entirely
Feb. 7th, 2008 04:59 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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queensthiefOkay, this is slightly off-topic, but it's about books in general and and since this community is filled with librarians and lovers of books it's not far off. This is my excuse, and I am sticking with it.
So, I have a class last period called Literature Studies, henceforth to be referred to as Lit. Anyway, the theme's "literature of the disenfranchised," which is a lovely topic even though I can barely spell it and we have cool books and a nice teacher and all is well and good, etc. etc.
However, the other day we got into a discussion, the topic of which now eludes me and it isn't important anyway. But as we started with the delicate transition onto another subject of discussion, my teacher uttered this: "The plot of a book doesn't really matter to me. I can know the ending before I even start and I won't care. It's the symbols that matter, and the language used."
* By M.T. Anderson. Weird book, full of very strange situations and observations. For those who have read it, I especially appreciated the sentiment about breaking a child's back to give him a spine. Very interesting perspective, as well. Yes, this is a shameless plug.
**I do this all the time. It shocks me to no end when someone, usually my mother, cannot get through even the first ten pages. But I digress.
So, I have a class last period called Literature Studies, henceforth to be referred to as Lit. Anyway, the theme's "literature of the disenfranchised," which is a lovely topic even though I can barely spell it and we have cool books and a nice teacher and all is well and good, etc. etc.
However, the other day we got into a discussion, the topic of which now eludes me and it isn't important anyway. But as we started with the delicate transition onto another subject of discussion, my teacher uttered this: "The plot of a book doesn't really matter to me. I can know the ending before I even start and I won't care. It's the symbols that matter, and the language used."
My reaction was to goggle at her. So what, she could have a lovely huge book filled with nice metaphors and alliteration and imagery and what have you and she would be happy for all eternity? I find this highly unlikely. I gave her the benefit of the doubt and decided that she was merely ignorant of her subconscious lust for plot, and remained silent until the conversation moved onto less troubling topics.
And then, just yesterday, I brought in my Octavian Nothing Vol. 1 book*, since it's about a black kid and his mother in the 1800's who are test subjects of white scholars in order to determine whether or not black and white people are in anyway equal, and certainly an example of a disenfranchised person. Since I adore it, I figured everyone else in the world would as well, including my teacher.** So I gave it to her for inspection, and she didn't even read the plot summary. She looked at the cover, and liked the fact that it had won awards, and that it had a serious but nifty cover. She concluded that she would read it, but in a couple of weeks when she had time. Yes, she is going to read it, but the only reason she is doing so is that it won prestigious awards and is therefore "literature or something like it."
If I could efficiently express tone of voice and facial expressions through the internet, I would probably sound and look like an exasperated, constipated hamster right now. Or like this: >8| You'd really have to see it for the full effect, though.
So my question is this: how can someone read a book and not care about the plot? Isn't this defeating the whole purpose of a word of fiction? What do symbols and metaphors matter if there's no context to put them in? How can a person so far detach themselves from a literary work that they feel nothing for the plot, the setting, the characters, but for the hidden meanings that they hold? I mean, yes, things hidden beneath the surface are fun to find and bring more meaning to a story, but aren't they just pretty things you pass by on the car ride? As in, you take notice of them and they enrich the storytelling experience, but aren't the whole thing? How could anyone read for any amount of time just looking at hidden meanings and ignoring what's on the surface, which is equally as important.
And then, just yesterday, I brought in my Octavian Nothing Vol. 1 book*, since it's about a black kid and his mother in the 1800's who are test subjects of white scholars in order to determine whether or not black and white people are in anyway equal, and certainly an example of a disenfranchised person. Since I adore it, I figured everyone else in the world would as well, including my teacher.** So I gave it to her for inspection, and she didn't even read the plot summary. She looked at the cover, and liked the fact that it had won awards, and that it had a serious but nifty cover. She concluded that she would read it, but in a couple of weeks when she had time. Yes, she is going to read it, but the only reason she is doing so is that it won prestigious awards and is therefore "literature or something like it."
If I could efficiently express tone of voice and facial expressions through the internet, I would probably sound and look like an exasperated, constipated hamster right now. Or like this: >8| You'd really have to see it for the full effect, though.
So my question is this: how can someone read a book and not care about the plot? Isn't this defeating the whole purpose of a word of fiction? What do symbols and metaphors matter if there's no context to put them in? How can a person so far detach themselves from a literary work that they feel nothing for the plot, the setting, the characters, but for the hidden meanings that they hold? I mean, yes, things hidden beneath the surface are fun to find and bring more meaning to a story, but aren't they just pretty things you pass by on the car ride? As in, you take notice of them and they enrich the storytelling experience, but aren't the whole thing? How could anyone read for any amount of time just looking at hidden meanings and ignoring what's on the surface, which is equally as important.
EDIT: Oh dear, I've gone and written something in a moment of enflamed passion and given the wrong idea out. XD
No, I don't just read for plot. But I don't see why one ought to have to injure one's brain seeking solely the hidden meanings and not be able to enjoy the plot as you go along. And, to discount it completely is, well, retarded (or mentally handicapped, for the sake of political correctness XD). I think the hidden stuff is awesome-cool - I can't even keep count of the times where I'm happily musing on the story and suddenly *whamholycrapthatswhatthatmeant!* moment. XD The author's voice is, of course, one of the things I love dearly about books, and a dull author's voice can easily turn me off a book. Mind you, to me, narrative voice is not one of those hidden meaning things, because, well, it's not hidden. It's there, telling the story.
Personally, I read mostly for the characters and what the book is overall trying to tell me. How characters interact and such, and how that reflects our way of acting. I love satires for this, and dark humor and allusions to other stories, things, and people, fictional or no. But I'm going to be up front about this: I hate metaphors, similes, and generic symbolism. Author's personal codes are pretty cool though - like Tennessee Williams kind of thing.
Let me give you an example of the stuff I dislike [EDIT: Oops, contains major spoilers. Sorry jade XD Highlight the missing stuff to see.]: The Great Gatsby. I hate this book. I am quite passionate about the sheer volume of loathing I have for this book. But the English teachers at my school pretty much swear by it, because of all the freakin' symbolism. Never mind that he's obsessed with this woman he knew for like, two seconds and slept with once, and gets rich, gets ditched again, and then gets shot. Never mind that Nick is perhaps the flattest, most boring-ass narrator in the universe, who somehow lands a hot chick anyway but manages to lose her by being a wiener. The only good part about it was when we started questioning Nick and Fitzgerald's sexual preference, what with all the page-long crap focusing on how strong and sexy Tom Buchanan is, and how special Nick thought Gatsby's smile was. XD My English teacher got all flustered and offended and it was really funny. But my point is, yes, lovely symbolism and what have you, crappy plot and characters.
And it's Lit Studies, Univerisity Preparation Grade 12. :)
Yanno, by the sounds of things, it's a good thing I'm not planning on an English major or anything. So perhaps, just consider my opinion's to be that of the Common Man, yes?
I'll remember the other stuff I wanted to write here later. Until then, I shall reply to comments! :)
No, I don't just read for plot. But I don't see why one ought to have to injure one's brain seeking solely the hidden meanings and not be able to enjoy the plot as you go along. And, to discount it completely is, well, retarded (or mentally handicapped, for the sake of political correctness XD). I think the hidden stuff is awesome-cool - I can't even keep count of the times where I'm happily musing on the story and suddenly *whamholycrapthatswhatthatmeant!* moment. XD The author's voice is, of course, one of the things I love dearly about books, and a dull author's voice can easily turn me off a book. Mind you, to me, narrative voice is not one of those hidden meaning things, because, well, it's not hidden. It's there, telling the story.
Personally, I read mostly for the characters and what the book is overall trying to tell me. How characters interact and such, and how that reflects our way of acting. I love satires for this, and dark humor and allusions to other stories, things, and people, fictional or no. But I'm going to be up front about this: I hate metaphors, similes, and generic symbolism. Author's personal codes are pretty cool though - like Tennessee Williams kind of thing.
Let me give you an example of the stuff I dislike [EDIT: Oops, contains major spoilers. Sorry jade XD Highlight the missing stuff to see.]: The Great Gatsby. I hate this book. I am quite passionate about the sheer volume of loathing I have for this book. But the English teachers at my school pretty much swear by it, because of all the freakin' symbolism. Never mind that he's obsessed with this woman he knew for like, two seconds and slept with once, and gets rich, gets ditched again, and then gets shot. Never mind that Nick is perhaps the flattest, most boring-ass narrator in the universe, who somehow lands a hot chick anyway but manages to lose her by being a wiener. The only good part about it was when we started questioning Nick and Fitzgerald's sexual preference, what with all the page-long crap focusing on how strong and sexy Tom Buchanan is, and how special Nick thought Gatsby's smile was. XD My English teacher got all flustered and offended and it was really funny. But my point is, yes, lovely symbolism and what have you, crappy plot and characters.
And it's Lit Studies, Univerisity Preparation Grade 12. :)
Yanno, by the sounds of things, it's a good thing I'm not planning on an English major or anything. So perhaps, just consider my opinion's to be that of the Common Man, yes?
I'll remember the other stuff I wanted to write here later. Until then, I shall reply to comments! :)
* By M.T. Anderson. Weird book, full of very strange situations and observations. For those who have read it, I especially appreciated the sentiment about breaking a child's back to give him a spine. Very interesting perspective, as well. Yes, this is a shameless plug.
**I do this all the time. It shocks me to no end when someone, usually my mother, cannot get through even the first ten pages. But I digress.
no subject
Date: 2/13/08 11:43 pm (UTC)Meh, I usually can't get into a book if I hate the characters. If I don't care what happens to them, I don't want to read about them, nor do I care about their fictional opinions, whether they reflect that of the author's or not. I'm just cynical and biased that way. :)