Literary Theory and Writing

What do you think Modern Literary Theory adds to your ideas about writing?

Words are important as they provide writers with a way to think about the world and engage with their audience successfully. I agree with Terry Eagleton that words are constantly being recycled to create new works for a variety of audiences in society.1 Post modernist theory allows me to contribute to the body of knowledge that already exists in both high and popular culture. I can deconstruct my world and recreate it on paper to satisfy my personal wishes as well as my dissatisfaction with reality. Communication and cultural studies cannot always be combined to create a work; however, Douglas Kellner suggests that the divide between them is no longer significant.2 Literary theory provides writers with an awareness of class, gender, religion, politics, social and financial status as well as race. I think that theory helps me and my fellow writers to understand the beauty and power of language as well as the mechanics of a piece of writing no matter what it is. I specifically chose to study this course to gain the knowledge that I need to improve my style as well as to recognise my strengths and embrace them.

Do you think that knowledge of theory could enrich creative writing?

Literature provides people with the ability to appreciate the wonders of their imagination as they listen to or read stories by local and international authors whenever they wish. Critics such as Denys Thompson suggest that literature, rather than media provides people with an appreciation of it as they would of a painting or an operatic performance. Thompson made his sentiments known in 1964 as he said;

Unlike art, and especially literature, that appeals to sophisticated, trained sensibilities, capable of strenuous imaginative demands being made of them, media appeal to the lowest common denominator and seek mass consensus and affirmation, since they want the unread majority to keep coming back for more – the imperative at work in media culture, then, is the law of optimum inoffensiveness.3

Creative writing is enhanced by theory as it allows writers to share their passion for the written word with their readers. It helps readers to appreciate the essence of culture and humanity as it talks to their soul. Knowledge of theory provides with which to construct their story. Stories often come to life (at least mine do), as though their colourful intricacies become real as writers apply their theoretical knowledge to produce fine work.

References

Eagleton, Terry (2002) Faking it: The Art of Literary Forgery, at http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/jun/06/londonreview of books.html  Accessed at 6 August 2011.

Kellner, Douglas (1994) Communications vs. Cultural Studies: Overcoming the Divide, at http://www.uta.edu.au/huma/illuminations/kell4.html  Accessed at 6 August 2011.

Thompson, Denys (1964) Discrimination and Popular Culture, Middlesex, England, Penguin Books.