Nobel Judge says Americans caint write no good

[Sasaki Kojiro]

The correct title would be "Europeans say Americans cant write well"´

I see that you have gotten aquainted with Horace Engdahl.

"can't"

"acquainted"

[HoreTore]

Colour, honour.....

And anyway, this just proves how superior we norwegians are to the barbaric swedes. I say we loot and enslave them, I need some new furniture when I'm moving to a new apartment...

[Rhyfelwyr]

I think it is obvious Americans are ethnically inferior at writing.

[Martok]

I think it is obvious Americans are ethnically inferior at writing.

Indeed; it's a complex. At the very least, I know my recurring nightmare of Dickens and Dumas laughing in my face cause *me* to wake up screaming....

[Tristuskhan]

My dear friends, I must warn you, since at least two of you got it wrong, Doris Lessing is a woman!

[Louis VI the Fat]

Meh, too many Europeans let themselves be blinded by American popular culture. And hence overlook that there is genuine quality and sophistication in American literature, culture, the arts and public debate.

Making this up as I'm writing, could it be that the worst of American culture is globally exported and consumed, while from smaller countries only the best of its culture is exported? If you think Houellebecq, Édith Piaf, Amélie Poulain and Derrida are representative of French culture, you're in for a shock.
From France, this is what is exported, and not Tecktonik. While from America, for every Springsteen ten Snoop Doggy Dogs cross the ocean.


However, Engdahl is right on several accounts:
American literature really is too sensitive to trends. Engdahl didn't need to add 'to trends of American mass culture'. The constant urge to cater to trends of American High culture is as tiresome and uncreative.
American readers are too reluctant to read translated work. (And to see dubbed or subtitled movies)

My dear friends, I must warn you, since at least two of you got it wrong, Doris Lessing is a woman!

The picture is of Dorris Lessing. But the quotes are from Horace Engdahl, a man.

This proves the Frecnh caint read no good and

I think he should be burned at the stake using every Tom Clancy novel ever published

I say shoot all green politicians and then recycle them on a compost heap of there choosing.

A man of drastic measures is a man of my liking.

[Tristuskhan]

This proves the Frecnh caint read no good and

today's lesson: when coming back from a hard day's work, first have tea and then, post.

[Kadagar_AV]

From the article

Speaking generally about American literature, however, he said U.S. writers are "too sensitive to trends in their own mass culture," dragging down the quality of their work.

"The U.S. is too isolated, too insular.

I can't say he is wrong...

Note that he also said:

Of course there is powerful literature in all big cultures

I guess his point is that there of course are quaklity litterature written in the US, BUT you could be better if you had a broader perspective.