Can’t Bloggers and Literary Critics Just Get Along?

As many of you know, I’m really interested in the intersection of literature and technology. This is a large subject that includes everything from ebooks, to the way the internet (ie. blogs) is shaping the way we think about literature.

There’s no doubt that previous sources of information of suffered as a result; mainly, print newspapers and the dwindling number of Books sections in news publications around the US. Whether or not this is directly related to the rise of blogs and other electronic media is up for debate. Personally, I think the electronic world of the internet has taken a large bite out of the world of print. People realize that there are more views and opinions than the few "elite" who get their essays published in nationally distributed papers and magazines.

This whole debate between print and digital formats is understandable. Literary critics, theorists and other academics have largely remained  creatures of the print world. Whereas the internet is showing that even your average, everyday, armchair critic can have a powerful voice in the literary community. But why must they fight?  Why can’t we combine that academic prowess of the old-school critics with the far-reaching, more popular online format?

I was glad when I came across a blog post by Molly Flatt on the Guardian Book Blog. She gave a very practical, but also very idealistic, solution to this problem:

I would rather see us explore a future in which academic literary criticism is combined with social media to create a unique, interactive future platform for both elements -guidance and debate – than assume bloggers and professional academic critics to be incompatible species. It’s a beguiling dream for those of us who combine old-fashioned academic aspirations with a passion for, and familiarity with, social media.

I think the key is interaction between the two factions. Instead of one trying to be better than the other, bloggers, literary critics and anyone else with a deep love for literature should come together in a way that promotes a give-and-take between the "professionals" and us lowly bloggers. Ms. Flatt continues:

Literature is inevitably being transformed by technology, which is changing how we read, write, interact and even think – surely the way we professionally criticise it should be the same?

However, Ms. Flatt also points out that things aren’t all rosy and sunny when academic literary critics interact with the online literary community:

There have already proved to be problems when the two combine. Well-known critics or authors online tend to provoke comments less interested in engaging with the issues raised than in attacking the well-known person raising them.

That’s a valid point, but certainly not an excuse to give up on growing a unified literary community that uses the internet as a way to interact. There will always be people who attack others, usually just to get a reaction. But I don’t think this should stop other well-known authors and critics from blogging.

In the end I think technology will win. I’m sure that people resisted giving up their horse-drawn carriages for an automobile, but how many horse-drawn carriages do you see during your morning commute? Probably not the best comparison, but hey, I’m tired and it’s getting late.

What do you think? Will the old school literary critics and bloggers ever come together?

Critics V Bloggers – Who’ll Win

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