I do feel that literature should be demystified. What I…
““I do feel that literature should be demystified. What I object to is what is happening in our era: literature is only something you get at school as an assignment. No one reads for fun, or to be subversive or to get turned on to something. It's just like doing math at school. I mean, how often do we sit down and do trigonometry for fun, to relax. I've thought about this, the domination of the literary arts by theory over the past 25 years -- which I detest -- and it's as if you have to be a critic to mediate between the author and the reader and that's utter crap. Literature can be great in all ways, but it's just entertainment like rock'n'roll or a film. It is entertainment. If it doesn't capture you on that level, as entertainment, movement of plot, then it doesn't work. Nothing else will come out of it. The beauty of the language, the characterisation, the structure, all that's irrelevant if you're not getting the reader on that level -- moving a story. If that's friendly to readers, I cop to it.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He argues literature should be accessible and entertaining, not just academic theory, urging readers to enjoy stories for their emotional impact.
In simple terms: Literature is entertainment that should engage readers.
Key Takeaway
Read for pleasure, not just analysis.
Themes
literature
accessibility
entertainment
Mood
conversational
critical
Type
literary
cultural
When to use this quote
- book clubs
- education reform
- creative writing workshops
- media criticism
Key Concepts
reader engagement
storytelling
cultural criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- What story has moved you most?
- How can literature stay both artistic and enjoyable?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on theory can alienate casual readers.