"The Death of the Author" is the title of an essay literary critic and theorist Roland Barthes.
The term itself has been argued to mean that the work should be judged wholly on its own merits despite problematic origins. But, was that the intent of the framework or is it a post hoc justification for supporting creators (and thus their creations) who would otherwise be maligned?
With regards to fandom, how much can be said to be justified under this framework and as consumers should there be a limit to where and how this framework is used as a defense?
I recently studied this essay in my class on Contemporary – thalamouawad2 years ago
I recently studied this essay in my class on Contemporary Writing by Women. I think that Barthes' essay can be juxtaposed effectively with Nancy K Miller's "Changing the subject". It counters Barthes' work by stating that this dismissal of individual identity can be interpreted as a hegemonic tool used to deemphasize the stance of minority writing. – thalamouawad2 years ago
Another point for reference: novelist John Green has publicly subscribed to the Death of the Author philosophy, saying "authorial intent doesn't matter"; how readers interpret metaphors, he says, is as important or more important than what the author was thinking when he wrote them. This makes reading Green's books, like Paper Towns and The Fault in our Stars, which are stuffed full of metaphorical imagery, quite interesting.
Paper Towns, in particular, is about imagining people as multifaceted instead of seeing them as metaphors - but if authorial intent doesn't matter, should we accept our superficial impressions as accurate? – noahspud2 years ago
Barthes argues that once a text is created and released into the world, it no longer belongs to the author. In other words, the meaning of a text is not tied to the author’s personal intentions, experiences, or background. The text becomes an autonomous entity, open to interpretation by any reader. – MehdiYousefi3 weeks ago
The writer could explore the challenges and opportunities in adapting Harry Potter into a TV series. How might this format allow for deeper dives into beloved characters and overlooked subplots? What risks come with retelling a story already ingrained in global pop culture? The piece could also examine the impact of fandom expectations and the controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling’s public statements on the reception of this adaptation.
Good topic! For starters, you might examine the controversy surrounding the desire for a British-only cast, vs. the potential non-British actors could bring to the series. Along with that, you could examine some of the elements JKR has "retconned" or said she wishes she added, such as Hermione being a person of color or the fact that Hermione should have ended up with Harry, not Ron. – Stephanie M.1 month ago
The writer could also look at the risks of changing the setting. Could this degrade the quality of the story? Could this make people walk away from the franchise? – KomikSans3 weeks ago
Mark Twain's portrayal of Widow Douglas, another of Huck's guardians, emphasizes the topic of religious hypocrisy. The Widow Douglas represents a respectable, "civilized" society that seeks to reform Huck by imparting Christian moral standards in him. She educates him about prayer, urges that he be "civilized," and opposes his reckless behavior. Twain, on the other hand, gently challenges Widow Douglas' moral authority by exposing her errors. For example, she discourages Huck from smoking yet readily consumes snuff, a type of tobacco. Her own habits reveal the moral contradictions in her faith.
I think this could definitely address the elephant in the room with slavery and even reference the good John Brown who was killed trying to fight for the abolition of slavery. – Sunni Rashad2 months ago
I see where you're going, but this doesn't read as a topic. Rather, it reads as a paragraph lifted from an existing article. I think what you want to do is construct a topic like, "Widow Douglas and Other Fictional Examples of Religious Hypocrisy." You could stick to Huckleberry Finn as a main source or (my recommendation), start with her and then compare and contrast religious characters from other books and adaptations. – Stephanie M.2 months ago
The writer could look at why is it difficult for some Christians to stick to what their faith teaches – Laurika Nxumalo1 month ago
The Story of an Hour illustrates the dual themes of confinement and freedom. Mrs. Mallard's story reveals the restricted roles of women in 19th-century society and the profound yearning for selfhood that lay beneath those constraints. The brief and intense exploration of freedom in Louise's mind highlights both the allure and the cost of autonomy in a world that does not yet recognize a woman's right to it.
The writer could focus on how Mrs. Mallard explored freedom in a time when women were not free to exercise their rights – Laurika Nxumalo1 month ago
The writer could also examine whether Mrs. Mallard’s fleeting taste of freedom reflects a deeper critique of marriage as an institution in the 19th century, questioning if her sense of liberation stems from personal desire or societal oppression. – Beatrix Kondo2 weeks ago
Gatsby throws parties to entice Daisy Buchanan, the love of his life. The magnificence of the gatherings underscores Gatsby's attempt to reclaim Daisy by achieving the American Dream of success, fortune, and social position. However, the superficiality of these events highlights the novel's portrayal of the American Dream as empty. Despite the glamor, the parties are attended by people who do not know Gatsby and have no interest in him, underscoring the futility of his quest.
The writer could focus on how trying to please others could actually be a form of self-sacrifice – Laurika Nxumalo1 month ago
One of the most well-known linguistic innovations in Ulysses is Joyce's use of stream of consciousness, a storytelling method that attempts to recreate the flow of thoughts and experiences in the human mind. This technique captures the fragmented, nonlinear form of mind. Characters' inner dialogues, memories, and immediate experiences combine fluidly, giving the reader a real-time experience of consciousness. For example, the protagonist, Leopold Bloom,'s thoughts are presented without clear distinctions between past and present, fantasy and reality, illustrating the chaotic and associative nature of thinking.
The writer could explain stream of consciousness in relation to the protagonist's thoughts – Laurika Nxumalo1 month ago
Whilst YA Fiction in a sense existed before the 21st Century, it was never a properly defined genre that you could visit in the bookstore. You usually had your Childrens books and then your Adult books and your Classics. YA Fiction exploded into being with the publication of the Harry Potter books which we can consider as Modern Classics. This topic would be on the game changing books that have contributed to the growing shape and form of Young Adult Fiction.
For example, Harry Potter led to the popularity of YA adventure and action books such as Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series. Suzanne Collin's The Hunger Games is a staple in the genre for creating a wave of Dystopian fiction. Stephenie Meyer's Twilight and Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunter books paved the way for the multitude of paranormal fantasy books. John Green's The Fault in Our Stars contributed to the overwhelming popularity of Contemporary novels that delve into difficult and important topics that teenagers go through in life.
Of course there are positives and current or potential implications on these books in terms of how they have shaped the genre as well as how the genre is marketed, or at least what publishers looks for in this realm of Young Adult fiction. This would a very interesting topic to look at.
I love this topic. I would also suggest Veronica Roth's "Divergent", as that made a pretty big splash. – ValleyChristion7 years ago
I believe it is Young Adult novels are vital to literature because it touches on topics anyone can relate to, whether it is love and loss or finding your identity, the YA genre has something for everyone. – Yvonne T.7 years ago
Personally, I believe that The Giver by Louis Lowry is a predecessor to all the YA dystopias. – RedFlame20006 years ago
Interesting? I think this topic is amazing. In fact, you might have to limit yourself to one genre so you don't get overwhelmed. :) – Stephanie M.4 years ago
Perhaps the Hardy Boys and its progency would be worthwhile to examine. – J.D. Jankowski4 years ago
As a young adult who grew up reading these books, they all shaped me but allowed me to enjoy fiction and empathize with characters. – jamierrandall4 years ago
A lot of scholars trace young adult literature, as a category, back to the publication of S. E. Hinton's 'The Outsiders'. It would be interesting for you to look into Hinton's motivation to write what has essentially become a defining novel, trends in YA since then, YA authored by young adults versus books written by authors that no longer fit in that age category, among other sub-topics. – vibhavarid4 years ago
I'd suggest exploring Risking it All: Pushing the Limits Next Generation by Katie McGarry. It's young adult romance – Laurika Nxumalo2 months ago
One of the "hottest" books on Amazon right now is Chain Gang All-Stars, by Nana Kwame Adjel-Brenyah. It's billed as a hard-hitting drama in which American prisoners compete for their freedom on a bloody, Gladiators-style reality show on which "elimination" means actual death. Detractors look askance at the hype and writing style, but despite the book's newness, Adjel-Brenyah already has plenty of fans.
Chain Gang All-Stars brings to mind several other novels with this "reality show" conceit, from more lighthearted examples like Chicken Sisters and Take the Lead to Death Warrant and Cinderella is Dead. Whether or not elimination from these fictional reality competitions means one's life is forfeit, books like these usually offer discussion fodder regarding the deceptive nature of reality TV and social media, the meaning of trust and alliances, and other multifaceted topics.
Examine some examples of "reality literature" from any genre you like (thriller, rom-com, YA, or any combination). You could, of course, include Chain Gang All-Stars. Compare and contrast your examples, looking at character development, depth of themes, use of tropes, and any other issues you like. Examine what this particular subgenre is trying to say to readers, and how writers might keep its messages fresh in a world that continues in saturation of fast-paced reality shows, online influencers, cancel culture, and more.
