Is Television Supplanting Literature?
Some would have you believe that. Most people would rather tune in to their favorite primetime drama or reality show than pick up a good book. Libraries these days are desolate, great books go unread by many. People would rather be entertained than informed or educated. It’s almost like the realization of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. If you have been too busy watching reality shows to know what that novel is about, it’s about a futuristic society where everyone has a room with three walls of televisions, and everyone has a little transmitter in their ears to broadcast advertisements. Books are illegal, so all of them are burned by “firemen”. I’ll leave the rest of the plot for you to find at your local library.
When I ask someone if they have heard of [insert classic literature here], many say, “Oh yes, I saw that once.” I’ll say, “It’s a novel.” He or she will say, “Oh, I just saw the movie.” I don’t particularly like movies based on novels. Even if they stay true to the plot and include most of the details, it removes the influence of the imagination on the novel. Some things are not enumerated for a reason. Being able to visualize the story and scene in your mind is one of the greatest things about reading. Everyone should go pick up a good book and read it. And hug a librarian. Or a writer.
May 2nd, 2007 at 6:08 pm
As a writer of novels that will become, in future years, pieces of classic literature, I could not agree more. Books are written to be read and interpreted by the reader. This provides the reader with his or her own form of visuals for the novel. Movies take the individuality of the the reader’s, or viewer’s, perspective and force everyone to accept the interpretation of the novel that the director has.
(When is the last time you hugged a librarian, Blake?)
May 2nd, 2007 at 7:31 pm
I agree with you that movies should not be made after books, but you forgot to mention a certain piece of classic literature that made me never want to pick up another book again. Great Expectations, considered to be a masterpiece by few, and possibly one of the worst books ever written by everyone else. Is this the kind of book that we want people to continue writing? Surely not.
May 3rd, 2007 at 2:57 pm
To Daniel:
It was a masterpiece in some time, I’m sure. Having not read the book myself, I can’t say much, but I will say that everyone has a different opinion of what is good. It is not in your authority to say what people should and should not be writing. So, go with Blake to hug a librarian.
June 7th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
I know what you mean, how many “Survivor: Your Backyard” or “Make an @$$ of Yourself on Television, but Hey, At Least You’ll Be Famous” shows are we actually going to have to go through till its all crock. Sitcoms: back in the day, they were awesome, we had 3’s Company, Gilligan’s Island, etc., but now, the best sitcom out there is watching Jim Belushi take a grill out of his brother-in-law’s house with a crane! Why waste a half hour like that when you can read awesome classics, and hey, it might help you gain more literacy! One of the main reasons I’ll be going to college is the library. Haha, just thinking about all those books makes me giddy.