Just a quick question. What does this mean? Does it want me to comment on how I feel about seeing my favourite things criticized (generally I’d say my reaction is on a spectrum of “okay that’s a good point,” to “don’t really care,” to vaguely annoyed, depending on the thing and the critique)? Does it want to know which of these things I’ve seen criticized most often/widely (I don’t know because I don’t really read that kind of coverage online, and I don’t tend to discuss these topics much with people in my life)? Or does it want me to criticize one of these myself, and if so, why on earth would I do that? I mean, if I had a lot of criticism, I’d probably like something else more, wouldn’t I? Or maybe it wants me to pick a so-called “guilty pleasure” show, book or movie that is criticized a lot because it’s not very good but that I like anyway? I mean I have a lot of those. I enjoy a lot of questionable content. I liked
Schitt’s Creek and
The Big Bang Theory, both of which had some problematic moments and annoying characters. I also liked
Roseanne, which let’s face it, not great. What can I say? I was like twelve.
Good Omens was my favourite book for a long time, and the only reason I’m not saying it still is is that I haven’t read it in about two decades so it’s a little fuzzy. I’ve since been told it also has problematic elements. (Let’s face it though, I’m pretty sure that if I were to read it again now, while I’d probably be more aware of these elements, I’d still love it. It’s fucking hilarious in exactly the way my brain loves.) I love Roald Dahl’s stories even though he was a horrible man, and while I try not to support J.K. Rowling financially because I absolutely do not agree with or think her statements about trans people are okay, I do still love the Harry Potter books and movies, and will continue to enjoy them in spite of her. (Let me say it again though – I am 100% on the side of trans people in this debate, as in pretty much every debate of a similar nature, and I in no way agree with her viewpoints.) I also enjoyed
Sex and the City when it was popular back in the early 2000s, but as I got older (i.e. became close to the age some of the characters were at the time) I started to realize that it was really silly in a lot of ways and doesn’t reflect what I’ve learned about relationships and adulthood. Watching it over the age of about 25 (nevermind in my 40s) leads to unexpected injuries, usually due to excessive and intense eye rolling. There are things about it I still like, mostly when a sliver of real life breaks through, but also things I absolutely hate (I do not understand the clothes, for example. Or all the game playing – like just talk, y’all). So that’s all I really have to say on any of the possible topics for this week.
Can someone please tell me what I was supposed to write about? And what did you guys take from this prompt? Anyone agree with any of the things I brought up?
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I think you nailed the assignment! I agree with just about everything you said
Good literary criticism can be formal or informal, with or without references to various theories about Art and Literature, but it should discuss the good and bad features of the work criticized in a way that people who are familiar with the work can discuss and that makes people who aren’t familiar with the work more interesting.
I don’t think good criticism of books includes criticism of the writer unless it directly impinges on the book(s), as in “If the author had checked the facts, s/he would have known that this part of the plot couldn’t happen.” Some books are hateful enough to be held against the writer. I don’t think “Harry Potter” qualifies, but “The Turner Diaries” does.
This is a great summary of the topic. I agree about authors. I haven’t heard of The Turner Diaries, but I do think there are some books that are so reprehensible or ignorant that I can’t help but judge their author by them. But yeah, I don’t feel like Harry Potter has to be thrown on the scrap heap because the author turned out to not be as good of a human as some of her fictional creations. I think they can now exist outside of her, and we can ascribe our own meaning to them. Thanks for your thoughtful response!