- How has the academic reception of popular genres changed over time?
Literature was always a privileged male’s field by western standards, anything not by them was less than. As an example, R. M. Ballantyne published ‘The Coral Island’ in 1857, the novel watches three boys who survived a shipwreck and miraculously find their way home. A century later, William Golding turned to his wife, Ann, and said “Wouldn’t it be a good idea if I wrote a book about children on an island, children who behave in the way children really would behave?” (Golding, n.d.) Now, ‘Lord of the Flies’ has always been praised on the way Golding depicted ‘human nature’- it is its biggest selling point- however, critics, lecturers and the like, love to ignore the fact that ‘Lord of the Flies’ only showcases the nature of middle class white boys.
This has been a very convoluted way of saying that literature has now been reclaimed from rich men, and with doing so has expanded storytelling to new heights.
- What might the value be of studying them?
Stories are told in all kinds of ways, with their own themes, context and message; sweeping them under the rug because they are ‘childish’ or foreign is simply ignorant. There have been great stories told outside of high literature that- even today- hold significance. Expanding your readings/research throughout different media develops your thinking, and can enlighten your ways of viewing certain topics.
References:
Carey, J. (2009). William Golding: The Man who Wrote Lord of the Flies. London, England: Faber & Faber.
Pop Genres 2020 