The Emperor's New Clothes

[raefinlay]

Sometimes, reading "literary" fiction, I feel like the child at the edge of the crowd. I watch the emperor parade by in his fancy carriage, holding himself in proud posture purely by his elitist will, listening to the adoring but vacuous cheering. I'm the only one pointing out the fact that he's NEKKID as a brand new baby. (But stoopider-looking.)

Ok, let me back up a bit. I just read a short story in a consumer mag known for its literary fiction. (I won't tell you which one, but it starts with a "New" and ends in a "Yorker.") And I wanted to pour kerosene all over its formless, existential wallowing. *pyro*

Can't people see the nakedness here? How long until we have the nerve to point and laugh appropriately?

Comments

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

...it kind of stings to be called elitist and shallow and without redeeming quality.

Just so's you can be sure: There is not a place anywhere in my heart or mind that called you that. I've loved everything I've read of yours, particularly because of its literary leanings.

I was reacting to a very specific piece, which caused me to remember some other specific pieces that have frustrated me in the past. I'm on a journey here, to discover what makes a published author, to find that golden standard against which my pathetic stories are measured. When I read something that, as far as I am capable of understanding, is standardless, it makes me want to fold up and cry because it means I'm that much farther away from figuring this whole thing out. And it makes me want to give up writing altogether because I don't want to practice this for years only to have all the life and joy and wonder sucked out of my prose.

I use my lj as a tool on this journey. I posted an honest (and valid) reaction. janeorben and others have given me much food for thought, and I'm grateful to all my friends who posted reactions.

[buymeaclue.livejournal.com]

Nodnod. I know. I know it wasn't personal and I didn't really think for a second that you meant it that way. It's just--sometimes things sting or get pointed in directions they're not meant to be pointed in.

And I don't mean to say that you shouldn't do whatever you want in your journal (or that I even get to say things like that!). It's your journal, and your feelings, and absolutely yours to do with whatever you like.

It just caught me at a bad time, I guess, is all.

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

Meh. No worries. I was very glad you posted. The occasional voice of reason is A Good Thing.

I'll be very interested, yanno, to get updates on how things go for you at Emerson. I'm considering an MFA too, because I want very much to be exposed to the modern literary form. But having one foot in each camp, as you put it, can be a delicate thing...

[buymeaclue.livejournal.com]

The trouble with trying to be the voice of reason is, then you have to be reasonable. *g*