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Oh absolutely. And if you really want to appreciate modern literature you need some grounding in cannpnical works. They establish our common tropes amd metapho
by DubiousPusher 8y ago
Oh absolutely. And if you really want to appreciate modern literature you need some grounding in cannpnical works.
They establish our common tropes amd metaphors. You'll get a lot more out of most modern works having that background. Hell, you'll get more out of the Simpsons
I still have a reading list of cannonical works. It's just shorter and I pursue it less aggressively. One thing I'd say too is that college lit classes and our popular notion of "classical" works both over index on books. You can get a lot more bang for the buck imo out of essays.
- rectang 8y ago> if you really want to appreciate modern literature you need some grounding in canonical works Cultural literacy can be raised in lots of ways besides studying the musty canon. And why limit yourself to the slice of modern entertainment where the canon is prerequisite? Deciding for yourself what art you value -- after questioning the canon, ignoring academics, critics and other authorities -- is the highest form of appreciation. Each individual owns their experience. The author is not the authority.