What Is Literature?

Hello, everyone! The time has come to take a step back and look at everything we have learned so far about "Literature".

Over the past few weeks, we've been looking at works of fiction that are not "Literature". While one or two a few have literary merit, there are three elements that keep them from being literature:

• Poor writing style - on the whole, all of the books we've looked at exhibit a poor writing style filled with amateurish mistakes. All of the books (some more than others) contain grammar mistakes, confusing syntax, and mixed or nonsensical metaphors, all of which get in the way of enjoying the stories. However, telling instead of showing seems to be the most prevalent problem: instead of allowing the characters' actions and words to inform their characterization, the authors feel the need to constantly inform us about their characters, perhaps thinking the readers too dense to figure things out on their own.
• Poor characterization - many of characters in these books are bland, boring, and forgettable. When they're not so perfect it makes my teeth hurt, they are often shallow, self-centered, and disturbingly sociopathic.

*cough cough*

• Theme - it is my opinion that good literature needs to say something about humanity, life, the universe, and/or everything. These books, however, contribute nothing. They are, in essence, empty fluff stories. Good for a few hours of mindless enjoyment: yes. Literature: no.

Of course, if all these are elements of fiction that is not literature, then literature will have their opposites: a good writing style and an ability to show instead of tell; rich, complex characters that are able to interact with each-other like normal human beings; and some kind of well-thought-out, complex theme. Literature will have the ability to entertain the readers, while also making them think. The books we have read so far epitomize everything implied by the term genre fiction as used by stuffy academics: fiction that is good for entertainment purposes only; fiction that has none of the style or complexity that "Literature" is supposed to have.

Of course, there are still a few problems with the term Genre Fiction: the term implies that the works it is applied to are part of a specific genre, such as fantasy or science fiction. The usage of this term implies that any work of fiction that falls under such genres cannot truly be "Literature". However, many works of fiction that are considered "Literature"exhibit elements of these genres. Are there works of genre fiction that should be considered literature? Are there works of literature that can, under our new definitions, be considered genre fiction? How can more distinct lines be drawn between the two? What do you think?

Note: I really have enjoyed working on this blog, and discussing with all of you what makes literature "Literature". However, this blog was ultimately begun as a class project and, now that the semester is over, the project can be considered concluded. In addition, I will have to devote more of my time this coming semester to school work (senior thesis ftw!), which means less time to read and analyze. In short, at least for the time being, this blog will have to be put on hiatus.

However, I do not intend to let this blog die completely. I will still keep an eye on it, reading and responding to your comments. I may even make a new post from time-to-time; however, any posts I do make will have to be sporadic for the time being.

Thank you all very much. Until next time!