I couldn't believe it. With an almost morbid fascination, I cruised onto Amazon to read customer reviews of the book and spent an hour bouncing around and extrapolating the thought processes of those people. In many ways, it drove me almost to the point of sheer vocal amusement (a rather disrupting sort of behavior given my current position in class) in tandem to the point of suicidal depression. I have attempted to survey the latest teen craze in literature, but was horribly disappointed to the point of driving a wooden stake through my heart. Since when have Mary Sues taken over the world? Since when have novels and stories become shallow, trash-ridden tales that seek not to enlighten, inspire, or anything but only to make people feel good about their lives? Is this simply our generation lacking inner strength and resilience?
If 'Twilight,' arguable by the series' champions as the 'best book,' was far below my expectations, vicariously reading 'Breaking Dawn' through reviews made me nauseous. Even deeper than an authoress capitalizing on weak pre-teen (and middle aged and mentally deranged in some cases, I'm sure) readers with a fantasy world almost explicitly designed for love-starved insecure escapists, I am concerned about the popularity of such a series. It says a great deal about the lack of focus on the craft of writing throughout American culture; and it has deeper implications than a simple blockbuster mess of text. Writing well is a skill required for many professional and personal environments; and yet, mass media perpetuates poorly written farces focused only upon either 'making people feel good' or 'I'm going to express myself because I'm worth it.'
I realize my words are harsh, but I wish to clarify that I do not mean people should not 'feel good 'from reading, nor limit self-expression. However, such tools are powerful entities that have the capacity to inspire, communicate, and shape the world. Think of the great writers in the past; philosophical paragons like St. Augustine, expressivists like Hemmingway, social champions like Harper Lee. Even smaller fables by Aesop, who illustrate even through a childhood joy, add value to the world. Yet, even as I go through life and have become exposed to numerous writing, both professional and person, published and amateur, I can scarcely believe that the focus of writing and sharing such expression has become a self-serving means of 'listen to me' or a way to make money off escapists. Truly, in some way, this is the death of literature.
The death of the literary age of writing. Perhaps, we will soon have such nuance and diction lost in favor of more efficient means of information transfer (arguably, TV transmits more information than writing, for certain). However, I cannot feel anything but sadness at books such as 'Twilight;' their popularity demonstrates the beginning decline of the written word, and the focus of our society more on euphoric experiences of the now than lasting value and meaning. Popular culture in writing, in some ways, is the vanguard of a new age of writing; an age in which quick 'bursts' of emotion and feeling matter more than the complex weave of meanings, viewpoints, and philosophies.
Truly, will we forget where we have come from? I hope not. As I face the future of writing, even in my own development, I can feel nothing but respect for those before me, and reverence at their skill and style. For whatever words I have were shaped in part by them, and I can be no more arrogant than a child to his parents towards the writers of ages long ago.
I suppose my sentiment isn't shared by the majority. Perhaps it never was.
Today is sunny, but I hurt my finger. Therefore, I am lazy.
Cheers.
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