David Arnason seems to say that the crafting of fiction is a complex and arduous task. Although the plots are easy to develop or “plagiarize,” the development of detail is a winding path that takes much consideration. There are many stereotypical aspects that make the story more appealing to the reader. Arnason seems to purport this view in that readers tend to be able to enjoy and be able to identify what popular media and history has depicted as being beautiful, romantic, or correct. That would be the superficial explanation. Underneath all of narrator's apparent confusion, David Arnason is really criticizing the art of “crafting fiction.” He only delineates the various aspects of crafting fiction so that he can make a satire of it.
Arnason seems bitter; disenchanted almost. He talks about how he had easily taken plots from other great works of literature. What he really means is that contemporary writers of fiction shamelessly steal from the past greats, regurgitating in a derivative and thus disgusting form. He also criticizes the publication process by saying that no matter how bad a story is, it will eventually be published. Arnason attacks the frequent use of stereotypes as the norm in stories. He seems to complain that there is no breathing room for creativity; any such action will result in the reader disliking the story. Further restrictions seem to be put on genuine writers of fiction when detractors such as the “feminists” constantly attack and disparage their works. Arnason also wracks this piece with grammatical errors, parodying the horrific usage of English in modern literature; especially within the realm of fiction. Overall, Arnason seems to say that the crafting of fiction is coming close to being a formula. Plug this and that in to achieve the end result.
Arnason's complaints are not unheard of in other realms of art. His description of fiction as a formula is mirrored by the entertainment industry. Movies and TV shows – if broken down – have essentially the same plots. In order avoid the loss of investor capital, the foremost goal of directors is not originality, but box-office success. As we progress into the modern age, a time of mindless consumerism and media giants, our actions become dictated by mob mentality. We are essentially zombies without super-fast speed and rotting flesh. We love to hate anything new. We love security and conformity. The detriment to the artistic work is that artists can no longer produce pieces of art according to their artistic sensibilities. They must produce art according to standard set by their managers and editors. The mastery and originality of any piece of writing, music, or painting are traded-off for popularity and monetary gain.
It's a peculiar feeling to be reading this post exactly one year after it was published - especially when one opens this page randomly. It seems so familiar, so close, yet strange, and distant.
ReplyDeleteHappy September 18, 2012.
Happy anniversary, article.
This is a celebration of a bridge between the past and the present.