I so agree with you and with exactly what Stephen King said in that fab memoir. In the creative writing classroom, one of the first things I say is that so-called "political" correctness has no place in ART. I add here to explain that if that were the case, we would never have had, as one example, Philip Roth's terrific novel _The Dying Animal_ that Michiko Kakutani gave a horrid review in the NYTimes calling Roth "misogynist," if I recall correctly--the gist anyway of the review. in my view, she totally missed what Roth achieved in that novel that went on to become a terrific flick, too.
Love the No-PC in art position. Yes! Art has always been about breaking down barriers, taking risks, transcending censorship. I love Roth! I’m also thinking here of Henry Miller.
I love both authors! This transcending censorship makes me feel as if art will be lost--and that is the case almost always in autocracies. Dictators hate writers and worry about painters: Consider, e.g., Cuba under Castro. I could go on ... as I know you know, Michael.
Thank you, Michael, for writing this. There’s a lot to take in! I’m wondering if you would expand on your search for Capital-T Truth and your reference to “we have to write our “truth,” whatever is on our minds.’ How do you best explain those two concepts working in harmony together? — Georgia
Hi Georgia! First: Thank you for reading :) Second: My niece's name is Georgia. Third: Great question! The way I think of it is this: Capital-T Truth is the search for either a. objective truths (gravity; the Earth revolving around the sun; the existence of molecules; etc) and/or b. universal human truths handed down to us through the generations (i.e., the use of ancient Greek poetry/myths which still to this day feel true and relevant and universal to mankind). "My truth" (or yours) is more narrow and unique and specific: Aka, the truth that makes each human individual tick. For example: A universal [capital-T] truth might be: The reality of grieving the loss of someone you love. A "your truth" might be: You never pursued your biggest dream because you never felt good enough because you never felt fully seen/heard/loved/understood growing up. Etc.
I so agree with you and with exactly what Stephen King said in that fab memoir. In the creative writing classroom, one of the first things I say is that so-called "political" correctness has no place in ART. I add here to explain that if that were the case, we would never have had, as one example, Philip Roth's terrific novel _The Dying Animal_ that Michiko Kakutani gave a horrid review in the NYTimes calling Roth "misogynist," if I recall correctly--the gist anyway of the review. in my view, she totally missed what Roth achieved in that novel that went on to become a terrific flick, too.
Love the No-PC in art position. Yes! Art has always been about breaking down barriers, taking risks, transcending censorship. I love Roth! I’m also thinking here of Henry Miller.
I love both authors! This transcending censorship makes me feel as if art will be lost--and that is the case almost always in autocracies. Dictators hate writers and worry about painters: Consider, e.g., Cuba under Castro. I could go on ... as I know you know, Michael.
Agree. I’m excited about this guest post. I’ll work on it and contact you in a few days!
Thank you, Michael, for writing this. There’s a lot to take in! I’m wondering if you would expand on your search for Capital-T Truth and your reference to “we have to write our “truth,” whatever is on our minds.’ How do you best explain those two concepts working in harmony together? — Georgia
Hi Georgia! First: Thank you for reading :) Second: My niece's name is Georgia. Third: Great question! The way I think of it is this: Capital-T Truth is the search for either a. objective truths (gravity; the Earth revolving around the sun; the existence of molecules; etc) and/or b. universal human truths handed down to us through the generations (i.e., the use of ancient Greek poetry/myths which still to this day feel true and relevant and universal to mankind). "My truth" (or yours) is more narrow and unique and specific: Aka, the truth that makes each human individual tick. For example: A universal [capital-T] truth might be: The reality of grieving the loss of someone you love. A "your truth" might be: You never pursued your biggest dream because you never felt good enough because you never felt fully seen/heard/loved/understood growing up. Etc.