Ambiguity is the answer. Plus an arresting and highly visual use of language. Great literature explores the complexities and contradictions of the human psyche in action through strongly visualized and explicit narratives. That's my off the cuff definition. Muddled, I'm sure. But if anything, great literature is great muddlering.
WC --- On Thu, 10/23/08, Chris Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: Chris Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Envisioning > To: [email protected] > Date: Thursday, October 23, 2008, 9:39 AM > The more interesting question (for me, anyway) is what would > distinguish a > "pretty mundane "True Detective" kind of > thing" from a kind of story that > might have great literary merit. > > The basic story line for Clint's > "Unforgiven", for example, would seem to have > been much more promising (even if the resulting film was a > disappointment) > > My question, of course, presumes that "great literary > merit" -- as > distinguished from best seller or box-office hit -- is a > concept worth > pursuing. > > > > ********************************** > > > > > > > > > > > > Question for Cheerskep and other writers: > > > I happened to see an ad on a web site for Clint > Eastwood's new movie, > "Changeling" (about a 1920s event in LA in which > a woman's infant was > abducted, and when the police return the child, she > suspects it's a different > boy). The basic story line seemed like a pretty mundane > "True Detective" kind > of thing. But it still got me to wondering: > > What is it about the kernel of a story that hooks you? How > do you go about > envisioning a larger story? What is it that makes you > conclude that you want > to write the full story (book, play, etc.)? > > I know for myself how this happens when I paint or draw a > picture, or even > attempt sculptures. But I don't have a clue about > writing stories. Or for that > matter, since I have absolutely no innate talent for music, > how a composer > goes about developing a song or longer composition. > > Aside from my intrigue with this question, I think the > answers can shed some > light on how what we call "aesthetics" is > incorporated in the actual making or > developing of a work. > _____________________________________________________________ > Free quote and debt consolidation information. Click Here. > http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2211/fc/Ioyw6ijmNTwqDJDE6fPJOYLEB16mj8 > Bp4lrZpOiMDV7ntIfz3BGwBm/?count=1234567890
