I've had a discussion with some groups and I think you guys are the best one for this, which mainly involved the meaning of deconstruction.
What is a Deconstruction /lit/? Is it possible for a work to be a Deconstruction or is it just a form of analytic examination of a work? Is it the breaking down of its own genre? Is it nothing but just a synonym of realism?
>>9214893
On its own terms decon is realism with eyes. It's not terribly difficult, really just a matter of pointing out how most arguments, say, implode on their own. For instance, when Yeats wonders how it is possible to distinguish the dancer from the dance, the deconstructionist notes that the poet himself has just made that distinction, dancer\dance, so if the poet can distinguish, so can the reader, and the words as a result lose what is called 'meaning' --it's a pretty dirty business, some are more skillful at using it than others, but, at this time, though sometimes useful, thoroughly bankrupt as a religion.
>>9214893
tl;dring the post above, deconstruction is basically the idea that language is self-defeating. It's a pretty spicy way to rejuvenate literary criticism because now that we've said everything to say about most books worth reading we can go back and show how all those books are actually saying the exact opposite.
My favorite deconstruction is Zizek's commentary on The Sound of Music: The message of the movie is anti-nazi but when you look at the subtext it's secretly fascist. The good guys are pastoral aryans from the countryside, straight out of a German propaganda poster about the way the world used to be, while the Nazis are all wealthy, urban, jew-looking.
That's an example of deconstruction.
>>9214893
You can oppose Deconstruction to Structuralism, for contrast if that helps.
One of the simplest deffinitions I've heard is "swapping the foreground for the background". That is, looking beyond what is obvious and intended, and looking at the context surrounding the artwork.
For reasons I can't explain right now, I need you guys to help me deconstruct what constitutes excelent and masterfull writing.
So far I got the following:
>Use of tropes from previous writers, have an important cultural baggage
>Use of references, citations to previous works
>Correct use of a plot structure
>Figures of speech
>Carefull use and practice of poetrhy rules and metric (be a poet)
>Carefull though of use of words, mainly repetition of sounds
>Iambic pentameter
>Smart use of repetition and variance
>Eloquence (that is the ability to talk about a topic in eloquent ways, mainly artistically, using figures of speech and intelligent mental pictures)
So far those are the elements of good writing I've been able to think about.
I would love a proper and smart discussion over this topic, since I'm tired of hearing that good writing can't be analized.
traditionally maybe. but in our time: make it fun. make it easy, make it smart, make it ironic.
>>9214638
Anon I consider myself a traditionalist.
Fuck your post XIX century garbage literature.
>>9214650
have fun being irrelevant forever (it's only gonna get worse)
What does /lit/ prefer their books to be formatted in? .pdf, .mobi, .epub?
>inb4 hardcopy
>inb4 OP can't inb4
I also prefer hardcopy over virtual, just curious what you guys like to read on a screen.
>>9214525
what a snooze this image is!
Does it matter? Kindle only does .mobi and .pdf so that's what I use though I most of my .mobi's are converted .epub files
>>9214525
>no Infinite Jest
I was scared to post here till I finished that book
>>9214810
>Kindle
I was under the impression it couldn't handle PDFs well.
How do they stack up?
The Aeneid > The Odessy > The Illiad
>>9214406
Iliad>Odyssey>Aeneid
>>9214406
Nothing shocks so much as the conclusion of the Aeneid, but Odyssey is by far and away the best.
Odyssey is easily the most overrated
how much will I improve my writing if I try to write 20 pages every day for 50 days?
|<--------------------------------------------------------->|
This much.
They would probably be shitty pages.
>>9214343
quantity practice > few practice.
this is why you're a mediocre writer.
“Donne’s approach to love is often surprising and bizarre.”
What is your response to this statement /lit/?
Sounds like butt stuff desu
>>9214314
Well? The conceits are bizarre by intent, while the notion of love in him, over time, becomes more and more generalized. As well as his notion of death: do not ask for whom the bell tolls, is a classic instance: It tolls for thee. Recognized or not, we're all saturated in love and death, and this is a problem. Like the Earl of Rochester he began as a rake, but unlike the Earl he lived it out and became a divine. The poetry and the sermons are alike fantastic.
>>9214314
Dude was writing erotic lesbian fan fiction about the poet Sappho long before it was considered socially acceptable to address the fact she was gay (rumours abound that her more erotic works were purged in ritualistic book burnings of the 12th century).
Also he had a weird erotic fascination with the epiphanic moment of being touched by God, usually figured through images of rape and pillaging. Pretty edgy imo but his love poetry is a thing of beauty
ITT: Philosophy books that help with dealing with cynicism, nihilism and depression
The Phenomenology of Spirit.
>Have read just about every book discussed on /lit/
>Have read most of the Greeks and Western canon
>When I talk to someone in real life I cannot form coherent sentences and trip over every word
clearly you forgot to read Aristotle's Rhetoric
restart with the Greeks
>ate just about every dish on earth
>doesn't know how to boil an egg
really makes you think
>>9214225
didn't anyone tell this anon not to talk to ordinary people after finishing the canon? he's probably been out there trying to communicate for days
jesus fuck
i want answers people
Greek vs Latin, which meme is worthier of study?
Which will grant me the affection of fair maidens?
Latin
Christians > buttfucking degenerates
>>9214100
Is that Harry Potter?
Latin is easier, but I can't say which is "better". Depends if you want to read Greek or Roman/medieval literature.
>>9214100
Latin desu, not much survived from the greeks. Of course, living languages, more specifically italian, french and russian would be better options.
stop being speciesist
>>9214068
Animal personhood is retarded. If a dog catches a rabbit do we put the dog on trial?
>>9214193
Animal personhood can be retarded.
However realizing a person's animalhood is essential.
>>9214193
if the rabbit is just a random rabbit nobody cares
if the rabbit is someone's pet we kill the dog because its dangerous and sue the owner
>I hold that a long poem does not exist. I maintain that the phrase, “a long poem,” is simply a flat contradiction in terms
>I need scarcely observe that a poem deserves its title only inasmuch as it excites, by elevating the soul. The value of the poem is in the ratio of this elevating excitement. But all excitements are, through a psychal necessity, transient. That degree of excitement which would entitle a poem to be so called at all, cannot be sustained throughout a composition of any great length. After the lapse of half an hour, at the very utmost, it flags—fails—a revulsion ensues—and then the poem is, in effect, and in fact, no longer such.
> In regard to the “Iliad,” we have, if not positive proof, at least very good reason for believing it intended as a series of lyrics; but, granting the epic intention, I can say only that the work is based in an imperfect sense of art. The modern epic is, of the supposititious ancient model, but an inconsiderate and blindfold imitation. But the day of these artistic anomalies is over. If, at any time, any very long poems were popular in reality—which I doubt—it is at least clear that no very long poem will ever be popular again.
Was he right, /lit/? Are all epic poems a waste of time?
i just shit a bunch of crap
poe was a CUTE i tell you, a CUTE
The way I see it is anyone who would potetnialy write a long poem could potentially do so in such a way that parts of it could be broken and stand alone as their selves, like muscal albums, have songs, symphonies have movements
How can I hate this board so much but keep coming back everyday? Any books for this feel?
>>9213984
venus in furs
Daily reminder to NOT believe in Dana's lies.
Why are breakfast food breakfast foods?" I asked them. "Like, why don't we have curry for breakfast?"
"Hazel, eat."
"But why?" I asked. "I mean seriously: How did scrambled eggs get stuck with breakfast exclusivity? You can put bacon on a sandwich without anyone freaking out. But the moment your sandwich has an egg, boom, it's a breakfast sandwich.
Joyce was a decent writer, but some of his stuff is embarrassing at times don't you think?
Fuck off with this John Greene bullshit
>>9213951
this is pretty true
"breakfast foods" are obviously a big marketing scam
well do you know why that is
>a picture is worth a thousand words
Average frames per film = 24. The average US feature film is 110 minutes long. 110 x 60 x 24 = 114,000 frames in one movie. Average movie = 114,000,000 words.
Most novels are between 60,000-100,000 words long. Let's say 80,000.
One movie is therefore equivalent to reading 1,425 novels.
Given these facts why are you wasting time reading books for entertainment? it's literally retarded and a waste of time. I can understand reading non-fiction or textbooks but reading fiction is literally dumb.
>>9213795
I prefer films to books, the only reason I come here is because people who pretend to like books are smarter than people who actually like movies
>>9213795
Your calculation and conversion are incorrect.
>>9213795
Reddit-tier humour
Full list of original ideas by Aristotle:
>
>>9213780
That's just asking to list every single idea by Aristotle.
he thought snot was brain matter and flies had four legs
he was a complete retard
He thought Plato a shit