Artificiality Quote by Ben Lerner
“I usually see the word "metafiction" applied to works that draw attention to their own devices, their own artificiality, in order to mock novelistic convention and show the impossibility of capturing a reality external to the text or whatever.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “Metafiction and the Limits of Representation”, 2012
The author critiques how metafiction highlights its own artifice to challenge the idea that literature can faithfully depict an external reality.
In simple terms: Metafiction exposes its own tricks.
Key Takeaway
Question narrative truth.
Themes
literature
metafiction
representation
reality
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
academic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- creative writing workshops
- literary analysis
- media studies
Key Concepts
self‑reflexivity
philosophical critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How does self‑awareness affect storytelling?
- Can fiction ever capture reality?
A Different Perspective
May alienate readers seeking immersive stories.
