Nobel Judge says Americans caint write no good

[Louis VI the Fat]

In a world of terrorism, hijackings, hurricanes, foreign policy debacles and collapsing economies...

there stands, alone, one foreigner unapologetically in complete awe of all things Status Quoian American.

That man is Fragony.

Ah, but then, that man is Europe's greatest philosopher. Fragony is quite correct about both America and France in this thread.

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

Me I always make sure to down two bottles of wine before posting here.

[yesdachi]

From the article: ...he said U.S. writers are "too sensitive to trends in their own mass culture," dragging down the quality of their work.

In response (not defense) I would say not every piece of published work is intended to contend for the Nobel Prize in literature. I would add that most writers are looking to fill their pockets with cash and “trends in our own mass culture” are popular and lucrative to write about. I have heard of many writers who sling keys for a living having to take time off to write their novel. Trendy, pop culture sells and most of us have pills to pay.

I have also noticed that guys with butch, feminist wives don’t have much control at home and often belittle people at work to make themselves feel important. BTW did I mention that Horace has a butch, feminist wife?

[Kadagar_AV]

Fragony, fair enough:)





This may just be my perspective... But I think this is what the article is about.

If a swede writes a book about, say, the end of the world... It might very well be a swede as the main character, however, the setting wouldnt take place only in Sweden, the character would travel the world in his pursuit.

In american litterature, the setting will most of the time take place in the US, and the US alone.

Now, this example is extremly general, and counter-claims can be made from both points.

But, as a rule, american litterature is very centered around the US, where European litterature is more international.

Am I wrong?

[Kadagar_AV]

In response (not defense) I would say not every piece of published work is intended to contend for the Nobel Prize in literature. I would add that most writers are looking to fill their pockets with cash and “trends in our own mass culture” are popular and lucrative to write about. I have heard of many writers who sling keys for a living having to take time off to write their novel. Trendy, pop culture sells and most of us have pills to pay.

I have also noticed that guys with butch, feminist wives don’t have much control at home and often belittle people at work to make themselves feel important. BTW did I mention that Horace has a butch, feminist wife?

Eventhough I do not agree with you, I feel an urge to applaud your post...
*and the thing about his butch feminist wife is oh so true, I had to endure a 3 hour seminar with her at university.... Afterwards I was unsure if I should cut off my balls or just shoot her*

[Strike For The South]

Fragony, fair enough:)





This may just be my perspective... But I think this is what the article is about.

If a swede writes a book about, say, the end of the world... It might very well be a swede as the main character, however, the setting wouldnt take place only in Sweden, the character would travel the world in his pursuit.

In american litterature, the setting will most of the time take place in the US, and the US alone.

Now, this example is extremly general, and counter-claims can be made from both points.

But, as a rule, american litterature is very centered around the US, where European litterature is more international.

Am I wrong?

America is a very very very large country. With about 30 times the population of Sweden. There is a reason we seem so insular. We are trying to find out as much as we can about our other countrymen first!

[Fragony]

But, as a rule, american litterature is very centered around the US, where European litterature is more international.

Am I wrong?

It is huge, I don't know if you have ever been there but I can't really blame americans for being america-minded, it takes me 2 hours to travel from the south of the netherlands to the north, how can you compare that? International is our reality.

[Don Corleone]

I'd also interject that to me, Europeans seem to want to have their cake and eat it too. You formed the European Union, claiming you're one united people. Then you claim you're international because you travel from Geneva to Munich. 450KM!!! You can do that and not even leave the state in several U.S. states.

All of that being said, I think America's awareness of the rest of the world is growing. It just takes time.

[Kadagar_AV]

Fragony, I've been to the US two times:)

I now it is huge... But that does not explain why "the end of the world" and "the end of the US" is the same thing in much of the literature.


Don Corleone, first of all, the cultural difference is huge within Europa... I am not saying you dont have cultural difference in US too, heck, I have been to New York and then Mississippi... Still, there was the same language, same food chains, same TV-shows and so on...

Geographical distance and cultural distance is not the same thing... you know...

And as a sidenote, who said European literature is bound to Europe only? Africa, Asia and so on hasa huge impact on our literature.

[Tristuskhan]

All of that being said, I think America's awareness of the rest of the world is growing. It just takes time.

Maybe, but that has nothing to do with the quality of your litterature. US has way much better storytellers than today's France, and that's all that matters.

[Strike For The South]

Fragony, I've been to the US two times:)

I now it is huge... But that does not explain why "the end of the world" and "the end of the US" is the same thing in much of the literature.


Don Corleone, first of all, the cultural difference is huge within Europa... I am not saying you dont have cultural difference in US too, heck, I have been to New York and then Mississippi... Still, there was the same language, same food chains, same TV-shows and so on...

Geographical distance and cultural distance is not the same thing... you know...

And as a sidenote, who said European literature is bound to Europe only? Africa, Asia and so on hasa huge impact on our literature.

There is a huge difference in the culture of the 2 cities Ive lived in and there in the same state! I even made a thread about it!

[yesdachi]

There is a huge difference in the culture of the 2 cities Ive lived in and there in the same state! I even made a thread about it!

But that was based on food and not literature.

[Strike For The South]

But that was based on food and not literature.

Good sir at the end of the day is there a difference?

[Louis VI the Fat]

But that was based on food and not literature.

Good sir at the end of the day is there a difference?

My padawan has completed his education.

I can teach him no more.

I shall now leave this forum and die a happy man.

[Fragony]

I now it is huge... But that does not explain why "the end of the world" and "the end of the US" is the same thing in much of the literature.

It's death to the idea of a new start I think. America is child of our sick history and a really succesful one, in a way it is world of it's own, even when it isn't I don't blame people for liking the idea. It isn't even an idea I think it is very much real, see Obama.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Well, from the looks of him the problem is plain to see...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Horace needs regular enemas to alleviate that backup in his system.

[Papewaio]

litterature

I think what Fragony was pointing out is that looks more like a play on words then a spelling mistake.

It looks like the word literature combined with litter.

Which aptly describes most of the backroom IMDHO.

[Strike For The South]

My padawan has completed his education.

I can teach him no more.

I shall now leave this forum and die a happy man.

A montage to SFTS and Louie

[Tribesman]

it takes me 2 hours to travel from the south of the netherlands to the north, how can you compare that?

Well for comparison everyone is moaning that the new road "improvements" mean that it can take 2 hours to drive from Tuam to Galway , but hey thats Ireland and we don't do much of that literature thing in a Nobel sense

[Koga No Goshi]

Well for comparison everyone is moaning that the new road "improvements" mean that it can take 2 hours to drive from Tuam to Galway , but hey thats Ireland and we don't do much of that literature thing in a Nobel sense

But you gave us a ripped off version of Dracula that changed the world. :)

[Adrian II]

Bigot? Maybe.

Make that imbecile. And definitely.

Buy the way, Horace who?

I think it's about time that this bunch of conceited grant their useless, overblown prize to Philip Roth before they dig their own mass grave, jump into it and politely ask the rest of the reading world to bury them alive and forget this bunch of morons ever existed. And that's putting it diplomatically.

[Ironside]

Make that imbecile. And definitely.

Buy the way, Horace who?

I think it's about time that this bunch of conceited grant their useless, overblown prize to Philip Roth before they dig their own mass grave, jump into it and politely ask the rest of the reading world to bury them alive and forget this bunch of morons ever existed. And that's putting it diplomatically.

But, but that would break the rule of giving the Nobel Price to a writer none heard of, written books none red and coming from the middle of nowhere.

[HoreTore]

Edit: Horetore, the Peace prize commitée. Need I say more?

What about them? The last one went to a yank!

[Louis VI the Fat]

France wins Again!

Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio: author of new departures, poetic adventure and sensual ecstasy, explorer of a humanity beyond and below the reigning civilization.

French sophistication and refinement beats American pulp again!

I take back everything I said about the Nobel comittee in this thread and I applaud them for their literary insight and as your literary overlords we promise to rule firm but just and blahblah.

[InsaneApache]

He looks as though he sat on something wet and warm.

[KukriKhan]

He has astoundingly dark hair for a 68-year old. It must be that French diet. :)

I read he did a short stint in the US as a teacher in the 60's. I wonder where?

-edit-
LOL, Louis

-edit 2-
Found it here

Le procès-verbal was soon translated into several languages, among others into Finnish. In spite of his international fame, Le Clézio chose to stay away from fashionable literary circles, saying in an article in 1965: "Not yet sure if writing is a good way of expression." He taught at a Buddhist University in Thailand in 1966-67, at the University of Mexico, and at the Boston University, University of Texas, Austin, and the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. Since 1973 Le Clézio has divided his life between France, the U.S. and Mauritius. He has also traveled in Nigeria and Japan and published translations of Mayan sacred texts.

Is UT-Austin where our STFS attends? If so, the irony literally drips.

[Strike For The South]

I go to Texas Tech. Highest rate of STDs, Teen Pregnancies, Dropouts, Drunkards and white trash in the state. Im in the right place

[Adrian II]

I go to Texas Tech. Highest rate of STDs, Teen Pregnancies, Dropouts, Drunkards and white trash in the state. Im in the right place

You should write a book about it.


P.S. Jean-Marie who?

[Strike For The South]

You should write a book about it.


P.S. Jean-Marie who?

I should. Then I can be like my Dutch hero!

[Yoyoma1910]

Not only did a Frenchman win the Nobel prize, but a Frenchman who lives right across the Rio Grande from the U.S.



Nobel prize winner.

[Adrian II]

I should. Then I can be like my Dutch hero!

The one who stuck his finger in a dyke?