Metaphor divorced from the reality runs risks, however.
Tom Send a noteboard - 04/12/2009 10:25:47 PM
Yes, metaphor allows people to access audiences that might be less than open-minded. However, let's get back to the Star Trek episode you mentioned. I could see a racist person living in the Deep South in the 1960s watching the black/white episode and saying, "I see what they're doing, but it's not really like that. Segregation is right because it's not just about skin color. There's a difference in culture." In other words, removing the moral from the context runs the risk (a very high risk, in fact) that the moral can be dismissed as inapplicable.
It would be much harder to deny the pernicious effects of racism if that person read (or watched) To Kill a Mockingbird. There's nowhere to hide. There's no way to justify the inapplicability of the situation. It IS the situation.
Also, I know you really, really like A Song of Ice and Fire and I'm not looking to open old disagreements, but I don't really see any deep messages or themes there. I think your predisposition to the series has elevated it a bit in your eyes. Yes, it talks about power. Yes, it's got a lot of intrigue. It's a lot like the HBO series "Rome" in that respect, and I think that's part of what drew HBO to it. I would still classify it as primarily a "diversion", however. A very good diversion (leagues better than Dan Brown's books or Terry Brooks or Goodkind), but still primarily a diversion.
It would be much harder to deny the pernicious effects of racism if that person read (or watched) To Kill a Mockingbird. There's nowhere to hide. There's no way to justify the inapplicability of the situation. It IS the situation.
Also, I know you really, really like A Song of Ice and Fire and I'm not looking to open old disagreements, but I don't really see any deep messages or themes there. I think your predisposition to the series has elevated it a bit in your eyes. Yes, it talks about power. Yes, it's got a lot of intrigue. It's a lot like the HBO series "Rome" in that respect, and I think that's part of what drew HBO to it. I would still classify it as primarily a "diversion", however. A very good diversion (leagues better than Dan Brown's books or Terry Brooks or Goodkind), but still primarily a diversion.
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
In Support of Other Fiction
- 01/12/2009 09:06:14 PM
2314 Views
- 01/12/2009 09:22:56 PM
1372 Views
- 01/12/2009 09:22:56 PM
1372 Views
Re:
- 01/12/2009 09:28:04 PM
1363 Views
- 01/12/2009 09:28:04 PM
1363 Views
you shouldn't feel the need to defend a non SF/F suggestion, just don't
- 03/12/2009 03:34:28 PM
1374 Views
Well, let me offer a diverging view on the topic of speculative fiction.
- 01/12/2009 09:46:35 PM
1298 Views
I would counter that the stripping away removes a level of reality.
- 01/12/2009 10:05:28 PM
1381 Views
That's a Slippery Slope Because You Could Argue On the Same Basis That All Fiction Does That.
- 01/12/2009 11:34:34 PM
1441 Views
I don't see the slippery slope, but rather, a confirmation of my original point.
- 02/12/2009 01:41:24 AM
1362 Views
perhaps some university will do a study
- 03/12/2009 03:55:54 PM
1343 Views
I'd like to see it
- 03/12/2009 09:15:12 PM
1375 Views
I Think I'll Post a Thread on This.
- 03/12/2009 06:47:05 PM
1312 Views
I'd like to see it.
- 03/12/2009 09:23:07 PM
1361 Views
Regarding depth in Jordan
- 03/12/2009 09:31:19 PM
1328 Views
I was thinking about that too
- 03/12/2009 10:05:40 PM
1338 Views
Re: I was thinking about that too
- 03/12/2009 10:09:26 PM
1409 Views
Destroying the Wheel is meaningless.
- 03/12/2009 10:18:08 PM
1281 Views
Re: Destroying the Wheel is meaningless.
- 03/12/2009 10:30:15 PM
1346 Views
It would. Destroying the Wheel would likely make him a Buddhist.
- 03/12/2009 10:51:17 PM
1300 Views
I Totally Missed That.
- 04/12/2009 10:45:56 PM
1412 Views
- 04/12/2009 10:45:56 PM
1412 Views
Re: I Totally Missed That.
- 04/12/2009 10:47:59 PM
1379 Views
- 04/12/2009 10:47:59 PM
1379 Views
I Don't Believe It Cursory, But Comparative.
- 04/12/2009 11:29:36 PM
1484 Views
Re: Well, let me offer a diverging view on the topic of speculative fiction.
- 02/12/2009 12:28:30 AM
1328 Views
I find Michel Houellebecq to be one of the most intriguing writers of our time
- 01/12/2009 11:14:05 PM
1426 Views
wait! there's somebody "dirtier" than Piers Anthony or Philip Jose Farmer???
- 03/12/2009 04:00:28 PM
1386 Views
Nice post.
- 02/12/2009 12:03:09 AM
1423 Views
I guess I'll break my silence after almost a month and a half...
- 02/12/2009 12:23:07 AM
1445 Views
- 02/12/2009 12:23:07 AM
1445 Views
Popcorn?
- 02/12/2009 12:31:44 AM
1380 Views
I'm glad I could drive you from your Carthusian retreat, Larry
- 02/12/2009 01:58:49 AM
1366 Views
- 02/12/2009 01:58:49 AM
1366 Views
It won't last for long - have too many things still to deal with in my life
- 02/12/2009 02:36:15 AM
1380 Views
- 02/12/2009 02:36:15 AM
1380 Views
That's too bad. I'll have to learn monasterial sign language to continue a dialogue.
- 02/12/2009 03:49:01 AM
1302 Views
I concur
- 02/12/2009 12:27:13 AM
1320 Views
I like your framing of the issue (and Shannara is the Taco Bell of writing).
- 02/12/2009 02:03:51 AM
1386 Views
Am i the only one who reads books for fun?
- 02/12/2009 12:33:52 AM
1413 Views
I certainly didn't read The Lost Symbol for ANY cultural, intellectual or edifying reason.
- 02/12/2009 02:05:45 AM
1316 Views
Of course not. Personally, I don't touch anything other than mind candy when I'm in school,
- 02/12/2009 03:29:23 AM
1324 Views
one of the things that is important to me in books/shows
- 03/12/2009 05:20:29 PM
1254 Views
WoT has decent characterization, though a little overwrought. Harrington... not so much.
- 04/12/2009 04:26:43 AM
1505 Views
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a science fiction/fantasy movie.
- 02/12/2009 12:54:08 AM
1395 Views
Reading only speculative literature is limiting and monotonous.
- 02/12/2009 02:09:42 AM
1409 Views
I was going to say exactly that about "real" literature: monotonous and limiting.
- 02/12/2009 01:57:49 PM
1353 Views
I would not disagree with you if you said that.
- 02/12/2009 02:27:08 PM
1252 Views
Most non-speculative fiction is fluff as well though.
- 03/12/2009 05:38:32 PM
1246 Views
Which brings us back to my point.
- 03/12/2009 08:04:24 PM
1370 Views
I would like to see the study and statistics that produced this answer.
- 04/12/2009 05:24:02 PM
1258 Views
Re: I would like to see the study and statistics that produced this answer.
- 04/12/2009 10:42:33 PM
1290 Views
Actually, it is a film that does not fit neatly into one category
- 02/12/2009 11:16:20 AM
1373 Views
Science Fiction is the most PERTINANT form of fiction in the world today
- 02/12/2009 12:57:19 AM
1361 Views
"Pertinent", not "Pertinant". If it weren't in all caps I'd have ignored it this time.
- 02/12/2009 02:13:36 AM
1357 Views
SF&F and 'real literature' are not mutually exclusive
- 02/12/2009 01:19:05 AM
1334 Views
So why don't we occasionally focus on "real" books that are technically spec fiction?
- 02/12/2009 01:25:04 AM
1278 Views
Why must we limit our focus in that way?
- 02/12/2009 02:20:11 AM
1281 Views
I don't see it as limiting or forcing.
- 02/12/2009 03:16:07 AM
1293 Views
"Elite club" or "elitist clique"?
- 02/12/2009 03:52:11 AM
1273 Views
- 02/12/2009 03:52:11 AM
1273 Views
Elite club is how we midwestern rednecks refer to Elitist Clique. *chews on a piece of hay*
- 02/12/2009 02:52:01 PM
1467 Views
I was born in the Midwest.
- 02/12/2009 03:01:36 PM
1325 Views
I know.
- 02/12/2009 03:12:05 PM
1291 Views
...!
- 02/12/2009 03:17:57 PM
1265 Views
Admit it. You know what I'm talking about.
- 02/12/2009 03:29:31 PM
1315 Views
Re: Admit it. You know what I'm talking about.
- 02/12/2009 03:31:26 PM
1257 Views
Huh! I really didn't think of you as being a masochist.
- 02/12/2009 01:51:55 AM
1304 Views
Read what you like to read.
- 02/12/2009 04:18:53 AM
1396 Views
I'll super size you. Fine. *NM*
- 02/12/2009 04:32:58 AM
645 Views
Oh noes! I'm getting word-fat!
- 02/12/2009 04:59:05 AM
1288 Views
I seem to have struck a nerve.
- 02/12/2009 05:20:27 AM
1319 Views
Apparently not the nerve you think, though.
- 02/12/2009 06:42:02 AM
1390 Views
Intellectual achievement isn't a static measure.
- 02/12/2009 02:13:10 PM
1324 Views
Re: Intellectual achievement isn't a static measure.
- 02/12/2009 09:40:28 PM
1392 Views
I really did get under your skin
- 02/12/2009 09:58:18 PM
1230 Views
Tom as much as you raise some great points, you are being a condescending ass.
- 03/12/2009 04:26:27 AM
1307 Views
You're entitled to your opinion. I don't care.
- 03/12/2009 04:51:18 AM
1270 Views
I keep replying. It's like a sickness.
- 03/12/2009 05:15:28 AM
1291 Views
Hm.
- 02/12/2009 06:58:56 AM
1897 Views
Re-read my exact point.
- 02/12/2009 02:18:20 PM
1245 Views
No. Some kind of reading is indeed essential.
- 02/12/2009 02:28:22 PM
1378 Views
There may have been an assumption about literature due to the reason for the post.
- 02/12/2009 02:37:47 PM
1322 Views
Somehow I get the feeling that this post hasn't caused quite as much controversy
- 02/12/2009 06:53:18 AM
1412 Views
As I see it...
- 02/12/2009 11:38:07 AM
1291 Views
Yep.
- 02/12/2009 02:18:22 PM
1441 Views
Re: Yep.
- 02/12/2009 03:35:38 PM
1306 Views
Euripides was poorly received, initially.
- 02/12/2009 03:57:58 PM
1215 Views
I wasn't looking to generate controversy
- 02/12/2009 02:19:13 PM
1432 Views
Well... then I'm going to have to agree with Craig a bit.
- 02/12/2009 02:32:59 PM
1414 Views
Well, I was being somewhat denigrating. "Unnecessarily" or not is a matter of debate.
- 02/12/2009 02:40:29 PM
1249 Views
Well, it's only "unnecessary" if you don't want people to be turned off of your message immediately. *NM*
- 02/12/2009 09:42:46 PM
627 Views
Judging from the responses, most people weren't turned off immediately.
- 02/12/2009 09:59:35 PM
1224 Views
All reading of fiction is a diversion by the very nature of the activity.
- 02/12/2009 03:43:05 PM
1284 Views
Diversion from direct action, yes. Diversion from reality, no.
- 02/12/2009 04:15:48 PM
1251 Views
I maintain that all acts of reading fiction are a diversion from reality/ the realistic
- 02/12/2009 05:43:16 PM
1265 Views
It seems a regressive argument to me.
- 03/12/2009 01:18:02 AM
1221 Views
You're playing a game.
- 03/12/2009 03:40:14 PM
1331 Views
I fundamentally agree with much of what you're saying, but there is a distinction.
- 03/12/2009 06:44:02 PM
1310 Views
Spec fic is perhaps at it's best in autocracies?
- 02/12/2009 04:10:56 PM
1209 Views
Bulgakov
- 02/12/2009 04:25:17 PM
1307 Views
I've only read the first chapter of M&M.
- 02/12/2009 04:36:09 PM
1285 Views
Re: I've only read the first chapter of M&M.
- 02/12/2009 04:40:16 PM
1192 Views
Not the greatest Tolkien scholar, me.
- 02/12/2009 05:17:31 PM
1247 Views
Re: Not the greatest Tolkien scholar, me.
- 02/12/2009 05:40:16 PM
1294 Views
I suppose.
- 02/12/2009 06:26:30 PM
1288 Views
Re: I suppose.
- 02/12/2009 07:25:26 PM
1300 Views
This was something I was exploring earlier.
- 02/12/2009 04:34:41 PM
1344 Views
Funny thing about the hivemind antagonist.
- 02/12/2009 05:13:30 PM
1277 Views
I didn't see the zombies reading speculative fiction
- 02/12/2009 05:30:26 PM
1375 Views
- 02/12/2009 05:30:26 PM
1375 Views
Oh, they prefer Clive Cussler.
- 02/12/2009 06:23:42 PM
1350 Views
There's an interesting book in Russian that might be translated somewhere.
- 02/12/2009 10:02:48 PM
1346 Views
i think it comes more down to quality than genre.
- 02/12/2009 04:55:20 PM
1314 Views
I disagree with the ultimate conclusion but agree with many of your points.
- 02/12/2009 05:43:04 PM
1272 Views
the illiad is a classic
- 02/12/2009 06:35:24 PM
1287 Views
There's only one "L" in Iliad
- 02/12/2009 08:18:38 PM
1270 Views
It took me a few minutes to agree
- 02/12/2009 07:04:59 PM
1278 Views
Well, I'm glad if you got something out of the post!
- 02/12/2009 09:13:26 PM
1283 Views
- 02/12/2009 09:13:26 PM
1283 Views
Many people have mentioned that there's quite a bit of good sff lit out there and you seem to agree.
- 02/12/2009 07:33:42 PM
1372 Views
The website is called "Read and Find Out". It doesn't specify what we're supposed to read.
- 02/12/2009 08:42:19 PM
1356 Views
- 02/12/2009 08:42:19 PM
1356 Views
Anti the idea ? I see no evidence for this.
- 02/12/2009 09:50:37 PM
1309 Views
Heh
- 02/12/2009 09:56:30 PM
1298 Views
I have a few objections.
- 03/12/2009 12:24:43 AM
1320 Views
where else should we talk about it?
- 03/12/2009 12:37:26 AM
1293 Views
There's a difference between having threads about it and focusing the official book club on it.
- 03/12/2009 12:40:53 AM
1367 Views
This is the Sci-Fi and Fantasy Board for site optimization purposes.
- 03/12/2009 01:07:39 AM
14290 Views
random thoughts stole my subject line
- 03/12/2009 01:56:07 AM
1345 Views
I think I could agree with a "comfort food" analogy
- 03/12/2009 02:12:01 AM
1318 Views
That's it
- 03/12/2009 04:02:28 AM
1420 Views
- 03/12/2009 04:02:28 AM
1420 Views
Question: is it really science fiction without one of the following:
- 03/12/2009 05:13:21 AM
1299 Views
technically speaking, fantasy is classed as a sub heading under science fiction. *NM*
- 03/12/2009 02:51:12 PM
555 Views
Yes, it is but actually...
- 03/12/2009 09:31:44 PM
1301 Views
But Dan Brown rocks da house!!!
*NM*
- 03/12/2009 02:16:47 AM
657 Views
*NM*
- 03/12/2009 02:16:47 AM
657 Views
another thing wrong with your argument
- 03/12/2009 03:30:19 PM
1317 Views
Absolutely not. And, as I said before, there's only one "L" in Iliad.
- 03/12/2009 06:53:35 PM
1112 Views
sorry about my atrocious spelling
(including the one on pertinent)
- 03/12/2009 07:14:59 PM
1406 Views
(including the one on pertinent)
- 03/12/2009 07:14:59 PM
1406 Views
is it just me, or is this now the largest post/thread yet on RAFO.com??? 168 replies so far! *NM*
- 03/12/2009 05:03:25 PM
597 Views
Congratulations on the replies count
- 03/12/2009 09:30:41 PM
1402 Views
That was a well-thought out response, but I still disagree.
- 03/12/2009 10:50:29 PM
1327 Views
Re: That was a well-thought out response, but I still disagree.
- 04/12/2009 07:44:56 PM
1372 Views
But the objective truth of a setting can be measured.
- 04/12/2009 10:37:10 PM
1272 Views
But does it make any difference in the objective value of the book?
- 06/12/2009 09:35:59 AM
1431 Views
Re: That was a well-thought out response, but I still disagree.
- 04/12/2009 10:25:08 PM
1302 Views
Re: That was a well-thought out response, but I still disagree.
- 06/12/2009 09:36:11 AM
1294 Views
I've obviously missed the show here...
- 04/12/2009 12:14:30 AM
1244 Views
I'm not sure that's right. This thing just keeps growing.
- 04/12/2009 12:46:24 AM
1369 Views
What, your penis?
- 06/12/2009 02:40:09 AM
1298 Views
Don't you know it!
- 06/12/2009 03:28:16 PM
1163 Views
- 06/12/2009 03:28:16 PM
1163 Views
You talk the talk, that's for sure.
- 07/12/2009 08:14:41 PM
1318 Views
- 07/12/2009 08:14:41 PM
1318 Views
Metaphor versus literalism
- 04/12/2009 05:42:03 PM
1324 Views
Metaphor divorced from the reality runs risks, however.
- 04/12/2009 10:25:47 PM
1245 Views
Honestly, the moral can always be dismissed as inapplicable if you want to dismiss it.
- 05/12/2009 12:16:39 AM
1256 Views
While that's true, it's much harder to just dismiss Mockingbird.
- 05/12/2009 03:57:42 AM
1236 Views
Then why read fiction at all? It's all a diversion.
- 05/12/2009 04:16:06 PM
1250 Views
I think people should read non-fiction, and The Nine Hundred Days is an excellent book.
- 05/12/2009 04:41:50 PM
1306 Views
aha. but.
- 07/12/2009 03:56:48 PM
1471 Views
