Friday, July 21, 2006

Extremity in Fiction & Prejudices

'Prejudice' is, for me, thinking you won't like it, i.e. before trying it or having tried something in the past which has put you off seemingly similar things since then.

There are perhaps separate concerns about extremity in Horror Fiction:

(a) What is or is not literature - and do you like it? (Concerns with intellectualism and how you see these things).

(b) Does extremity in horror fiction prevent the genre itself (which contains 'quieter' horror) being successful by prejudicing many readers against it. And does it create a 'vicious circle' of extremity outdoing extremity to the detriment of the genre?

(c) Regarding the narrow field of readers who already read horror fiction avidly, are some of them prejudiced against extremity (or against 'quietness' indeed as the other side of the coin) within a genre of fiction (literature?) they already love?

(d) How do aspects of (b) & (c) fit into one's own considerations of (a) and how they affect one's approach to (b) and (c) and one's general reading?

Re 'readers' above, this also applies to 'writers' and their own practice and prejudice.

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Art is as necessary as food and air.

Extremity within the Horror Fiction area of Art is not necessarily necessary within any one particular work but extremity of any kind is necessary within the potential armaments of Art. You're not forced to read or view the results, but the potentiality to shock must be available. Humanity and human existence and the human mind hang on humanity's perceived frailties as well as its perceived virtues (and Art is the finest mirror (often significantly cracked) for these perceptions): otherwise none of it would be human.
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GENERAL
There have been many postings since I made this blog's topic list but I hope it serves a purpose as linked from HERE

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