/lit/ - Literature

OP here, sorry folks I had to go to bed. Didn't expect thread to still be up.

>>18576896
To a certain extent you have to play along, just like irl. Tenure doesn't even mean job security for life any more. In terms of controversial views I may say something that goes against the majority of current critical theory, but say something too extreme and you're in trouble. There are plenty other Conservative academics but we're spread thin among left-leaning ones. However the best academic is one who truly loves their subject, all else is secondary. I'm usually based in UK but will be in Italy for the next academic year.

>>18576964
Literary criticism is by nature interdisciplinary, the most common contributing fields being philosophy and history. I think it's essential. People like to disregard Bradley because he places a lot of value on personalty analysis in Shakespeare's plays. However, this analysis is just common sense in most cases, and as I explain elsewhere in this thread Shakespeare cannot be divorced from personality.

>>18577050
There is a definite school of resentment and sadly it seems to be growing. There are calls - even among academics - for certain authors to be culled from the syllabus. Nevermind the fact that these authors have created some of the greatest works of the human mind. What can you do? Blackpill answer - nothing. I have every faith it will eventually swing back the other way. Realistically, share your passion with people you love, and will young people, and keep it alive that way. Enjoy it yourself. If you feel touched on an emotional level reading the sonnets, nobody can take that from you. And you'll intuitively understand how ridiculous and unfair it is for people who have never been touched on that level by literature to say those works should be outlawed for abstract, political reasons.

>>18577062
I prefer Bloom's compilation pieces, best poems of the English Language, Western Canon, etc. I don't agree wholly with his theory that Shakespeare invented personality. Perfected certain archetypes and story arcs that are recycled in western media, yes. The Shakespeare book of his that I enjoyed the most was 'Hamlet: Poem Unlimited', which is an essay collection.

>>18577063
I see the issue as not one of multiculturalism but one of quality control. Works should be elevated and studied because they are of high quality. There is clearly a measure of objective quality in literature which is easily seen when you take two extremes - say Anna Karenina in comparison with a cheap supermarket thriller, or Sonnet 73 compared with a speech in a poorly written romance novel. However, thanks to a proliferation of bad literary theory and an 'inclusion at all costs' attitude propagated by mediocre academics and the cultural zeitgeist, we are now questioning whether objective quality even exists in literature. What we need are authentic literary critics in academia who are able to objectively assess quality...(cont)

>>17982238
i act totally genuine on this site at all times

>>17291513
I can appreciate the balanced composition and choice of color but beyond that, it simply doesn't appeal to my taste. There is nothing wrong with preferring representational art.