All I'm saying is that there is a generation gap, and I…
““All I'm saying is that there is a generation gap, and I think it revolves around this public/private thing. Our generation -- we subscribe to the old liberal doctrine of the inviolate self. I'ts the great tradition of realistic fiction, it's what novels are all about. the private life in the foreground, history a distant rumble of gunfire, somewhere offstage. In Jane Austen not even a rumble. Well, the novel is dying, and us with it. No wonder I could never get anything out of my novel-writing class at Euphoric State. It's an unnatural medium for their experience. Those kids...are living a film, not a novel.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Modern writers struggle as audiences favor visual media over deep, private narratives.
In simple terms: Novels lose relevance in a visual age.
Key Takeaway
Adapt storytelling to new media.
Themes
culture
media
literature
generational gap
technology
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- creative writing classes
- publishing strategies
- media education
- film adaptation
- literary criticism
Key Concepts
narrative theory
media studies
cultural shift
Questions to Reflect On
- How can novelists engage visual‑oriented readers?
- What aspects of private life remain essential in storytelling?
A Different Perspective
Traditional novels may still thrive in niche markets.