Book Critics and the Blogosphere
Very interesting article from salon.com, about the idea of “the death of the critic,” how book reviews are changing as blogs and the internet become a forum for discussion. I’m still digesting the article, but I particularly like this bit from Louis Bayard:
“I now want to read more of Northrop Frye, who fired this sterling round of grapeshot at T.S. Eliot for fiddling with the canon of great writers: “…all the literary chit-chat which makes the reputations of poets boom and crash in an imaginary stock-exchange. The wealthy investor, Mr. Eliot, after dumping Milton on the market, is now buying him again; Donne has probably reached his peak and will begin to taper off; Tennyson may be in for a slight flutter but the Shelley stocks are still bearish. This sort of thing cannot be part of any systematic study, for a systematic study can only progress: whatever dithers or vacillates or reacts is merely leisure-class gossip.” Of course, I take Frye’s thematic point — the vagaries of taste are a fickle criterion for evaluation — but I’m more impressed by the dazzling execution of that stock-market metaphor and that ever-so-subtle colon in the last sentence. Anyone who wants to write about writing should be able to write.”
Mostly because it makes me picture John Donne throwing his arms about and making stock-trader gestures, with lace cuffs peeking out from his jacket.
