However, as pointed out before, critical opinion is subjective. A more informed opinion can be better, but can not, simply can not, be right. There is no such thing.
Can, and should, critics and people well-versed in literature set the standards of what defines great works? Yes, absolutely. But, at the end of the day, if Revolutionary Road speaks to you more about middle class suburban discontent in the 1950's moreso than the more popular and critically acclaimed Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, who's to say that you are wrong to feel that way?
(I in fact find them to be completely different works on a thematic level, but that is beside the point)
Does Catcher in the Rye achieve objectively on the same level as Moby Dick? No, but I find Catcher in the Rye to be by far the more meaningful and thoughtful work for me, and written in a much more engaging style to boot.
But beyond this, i feel like we are quibbling over distinctions rather than substantive disagreements.
Can, and should, critics and people well-versed in literature set the standards of what defines great works? Yes, absolutely. But, at the end of the day, if Revolutionary Road speaks to you more about middle class suburban discontent in the 1950's moreso than the more popular and critically acclaimed Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, who's to say that you are wrong to feel that way?
(I in fact find them to be completely different works on a thematic level, but that is beside the point)
Does Catcher in the Rye achieve objectively on the same level as Moby Dick? No, but I find Catcher in the Rye to be by far the more meaningful and thoughtful work for me, and written in a much more engaging style to boot.
But beyond this, i feel like we are quibbling over distinctions rather than substantive disagreements.
Brandon Sanderson plans 36 books in his 'Cosmere' setting
19/02/2012 11:45:24 AM
- 4484 Views
Was Sanderson created by the Writng Gods to counter balance GRRM?
19/02/2012 05:13:07 PM
- 1269 Views
I just wish he'd be done with the RJ shit and go back to writing his own books.
19/02/2012 05:40:59 PM
- 1220 Views
well, the publication date for that book is set somewhere a year from now..
19/02/2012 07:48:58 PM
- 1073 Views
Agreed on both points.....
19/02/2012 08:00:41 PM
- 1179 Views
Well, but he is a "fluff" writer from a literary standpoint
20/02/2012 02:16:11 AM
- 1234 Views
Not a fluff writer in my mind.....
20/02/2012 03:12:46 AM
- 1184 Views
You don't seem to want to hear what I'm saying
20/02/2012 03:51:13 AM
- 1146 Views
And I am saying that storytelling is more important.....
20/02/2012 04:52:39 AM
- 1270 Views
Storytelling is crucial...
20/02/2012 05:59:57 AM
- 1244 Views
A few comments/replies about your post.....
20/02/2012 02:57:16 PM
- 1207 Views
You are correct in one respect: all of this is opinion.
20/02/2012 07:01:11 PM
- 1183 Views
You sound like one of those nasty "literary elites"!
20/02/2012 08:07:13 PM
- 1128 Views
Literature is subjective
21/02/2012 12:26:35 AM
- 1225 Views
I agree with your point about reading Shakespeare from textbooks.
21/02/2012 03:18:37 AM
- 1266 Views
Never heard of Thomas Mann and the real Mona Lisa.....
21/02/2012 03:34:12 AM
- 1103 Views
Conversely, why should I trust the likes of you?
21/02/2012 06:19:18 AM
- 1344 Views
Oh, come now...
21/02/2012 10:35:18 AM
- 1261 Views
When it comes to evaluating schema, I'm not going to trust someone who only had English 101
21/02/2012 11:26:03 AM
- 1066 Views
Mostly agreed
21/02/2012 09:00:51 PM
- 1154 Views
Larry = snob
21/02/2012 05:34:22 PM
- 1125 Views
Amusing
21/02/2012 07:49:20 PM
- 1112 Views
Wow, you lack basic reading comprehension skills.....
21/02/2012 08:29:24 PM
- 1101 Views
No, I read that and didn't disagree that there couldn't be works that had both (read other comments)
21/02/2012 09:23:31 PM
- 1224 Views
Uh...Faust is a play. Doctor Faustus is a novel. The former is Goethe, the latter is Mann. *NM*
22/02/2012 12:00:22 AM
- 552 Views
I suppose fame is relative, but the most famous Doctor Faustus, to me personally, is indeed a play.
22/02/2012 07:29:59 PM
- 1034 Views
Wait, let's look at the gross disconnect between two statements.
21/02/2012 01:59:34 PM
- 1241 Views
So true about the Mona Lisa.
21/02/2012 07:57:41 PM
- 1266 Views
Yes, I was at the Louvre and you are right.....
21/02/2012 08:32:40 PM
- 1126 Views
This is where your own rethoric defeats you...
23/02/2012 06:38:54 AM
- 1108 Views
Slow down - it may not be the current elites that are hyping it.....
23/02/2012 05:12:47 PM
- 964 Views
Re: Slow down - it may not be the current elites that are hyping it.....
13/03/2012 03:10:12 AM
- 1173 Views
Seems like an awful lot.
19/02/2012 08:11:22 PM
- 1351 Views
Sanderson is a machine. Also, the books (so far) have been wildly different
20/02/2012 12:50:41 AM
- 1261 Views
Re: Sanderson is a machine. Also, the books (so far) have been wildly different
20/02/2012 03:00:17 AM
- 1289 Views
Same here- I didn't know about the Cosmere at all until I started poking around online
21/02/2012 03:25:36 AM
- 1172 Views
Likewise. After reading Mistborn and Warbreaker I started looking into him more
21/02/2012 06:20:09 PM
- 1156 Views
It's likely to stay that way...
20/02/2012 06:22:50 AM
- 1269 Views
Confirmation on the Mistborn trilogies. I am so happy. *NM*
20/02/2012 05:38:23 AM
- 504 Views
I am thrilled to see that there will be more stories about Wax and Wayne.....
20/02/2012 03:46:37 PM
- 1019 Views
The one issue I had with that book...
21/02/2012 06:21:29 PM
- 1117 Views