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Introduction to Literature. “Official” Reasons Why We Study Literature. How we make sense of the world How we produce “beauty” Helps us understand others and their sense of the world Helps us make sense of the “big questions”. And. Makes us interesting, well rounded, educated humans
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“Official” Reasons Why We Study Literature • How we make sense of the world • How we produce “beauty” • Helps us understand others and their sense of the world • Helps us make sense of the “big questions”
And . . . • Makes us interesting, well rounded, educated humans • Helps us appreciate other experiences • Helps us become “culturally literate” (we’re in on the joke when someone makes a literary allusion or reference)
When we talk about literature, we can’t help but talk about quality because all literature isn’t the same. *Note though, the next slides present information as if literature is EITHER good or bad, when we know that the issue is more complex.
In every art form in every culture, there is the art that serves to make us think and the art that serves to entertain us.
Have you seen a movie or read a book lately that made you think? Was it entertaining as well? Why do you think independent films so rarely make it to every theater?
Pop Culture Film Audience: mass audience who wants entertainment • National Treasure (the action movie) • Atonement (the chick-flick drama) • Superbad (the adult comedy) • Shrek (the children’s comedy) • Etc.
High Culture Film Audience: specific; those who understand film as art, know jargon, devices, inner workings of field • Junebug • Cache • Some documentaries • Many independent films • Many films produced on a small budget for the sake of creating an artistic expression
Pop Culture Art Audience: Mass • Most advertising art • Art from artists like Thomas Kinkade • Posters (Kitsch) • Desktops • Coffee mugs • Calendars • Clothing • Anything mass produced, or produced for the sake of making a profit
High Culture Art Audience: A narrower audience; specifically those with appreciation of art or money to purchase it • “Fine art” • Ceramics, paintings, sculpture, photography, etc. • Anything produced for the sake of beauty or expression "Girl with a Pearl Earring“ Van Gogh search results
There are MANY other art forms: • Fast food – mass produced, $ • Fashion—mass produced, $ - $$ • Music – mass produced for radio and profit, FREE • Fine cuisine – audience appreciates art form, $$$$ • Couture – “high fashion,” $$$$ • Music – “high” music, opera, orchestral, etc., $$
Pop Culture Literature Audience:A mass audience that desires entertainment or escape • The mystery novel • The “bodice ripper” romance • The spy novel • Any fiction or non-fiction piece with a primary goal of entertainment/sales
How do you know it’s pop art? Characters:sound clip - lack complexity - are stereotypes (the ditzy cheerleader, the bratty younger sibling, the bully, the grouchy senior citizen, etc.)
Other signs it’s pop literature and not academic literature Plot: • Launches into action without character development • Predictable • Has a happy, resolved ending (or a cheap ending) • Confirms popular beliefs – Doesn’t challenge the reader to think or question
So . . . Not all art is created equal! So the quality of art is determined by several factors. What is its purpose? Who is the audience? This brings us to an important issue. What is art anyway? You’ll talk about this when you take an art appreciation class—we could spend an entire semester just talking about the nature of art!
