Comments on: Literary vs. Genre Fiction http://www.bradsreader.com/2009/02/literary-vs-genre-fiction/ All Things Literature & Writing Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:37:17 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Why Genre Fiction Gets Me Going | Empty Pages http://www.bradsreader.com/2009/02/literary-vs-genre-fiction/comment-page-1/#comment-526 Why Genre Fiction Gets Me Going | Empty Pages Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:57:11 +0000 http://bradsreader.com.s47315.gridserver.com/2009/02/literary-vs-genre-fiction/#comment-526 [...] don’t define my love of genre fiction as a guilty pleasure. There’s nothing guilty about it. I read what I enjoy and I enjoy, for the most part, quite a [...] [...] don’t define my love of genre fiction as a guilty pleasure. There’s nothing guilty about it. I read what I enjoy and I enjoy, for the most part, quite a [...]

]]> By: G. W. Thomas http://www.bradsreader.com/2009/02/literary-vs-genre-fiction/comment-page-1/#comment-385 G. W. Thomas Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:48:38 +0000 http://bradsreader.com.s47315.gridserver.com/2009/02/literary-vs-genre-fiction/#comment-385 I am an admitted hardcore genre fan. I've explored this question quite a bit. The polarizing of genre vs. mainstream comes largely from not realizing that both have their own aesthetic (or basis of judging quality). Modern mainstream fiction comes largely from Henry James while Genre is descended from the old Marchen or fairy tales of old. Mainstream is about character's wants while genre is about character's needs. Mainstream revolves on the interactions of characters (making it more character oriented). Genre revolves on story (something has to happen.) Mainstream readers want observations on the interactions of people while Genre fiction can tackle more abstract questions like Good Vs. Evil, What does it mean to be 'human'? or What is the true nature of existance? (That sounds pretty philosophical but it's there.) An excellent source on this subject is Professor Drout's "Rings, Swords and Magic" lectures. GW I am an admitted hardcore genre fan. I’ve explored this question quite a bit. The polarizing of genre vs. mainstream comes largely from not realizing that both have their own aesthetic (or basis of judging quality). Modern mainstream fiction comes largely from Henry James while Genre is descended from the old Marchen or fairy tales of old. Mainstream is about character’s wants while genre is about character’s needs. Mainstream revolves on the interactions of characters (making it more character oriented). Genre revolves on story (something has to happen.) Mainstream readers want observations on the interactions of people while Genre fiction can tackle more abstract questions like Good Vs. Evil, What does it mean to be ‘human’? or What is the true nature of existance? (That sounds pretty philosophical but it’s there.) An excellent source on this subject is Professor Drout’s “Rings, Swords and Magic” lectures.

GW

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