from the Oregonion, Oct. 2023: ..."the Canby School District has chosen to remove just one: Russian American novelist Vladimir Nabokov’s celebrated and frequently banned “Lolita.” Four other books were restricted to Canby High School students...." Kudos to Nabokov for his staying power!
I don’t think an author should seduce his readers to look into the deep chasms of pathological urges. It may be fun for him, a chance to practice his skills and boost his popularity or a way to get rid of his own troubling impulses but for some readers the result can be damaging. Literature can influence people both ways - good and bad. A mature healthy reader will take it as it is - a piece of fiction (though based on the real event), a kind of experiment in the study of human psychology. Such reader can appreciate how well it is written. Others may be drawn to its dark side. With some authors one has to tie oneself to the mast in order to resist their dangerous calls. I’ve read the book in Russian and it didn’t touch me. It seemed unnecessary and - yes - a little boring. I disliked the main character from the start when he described his relationship with Lolita’s mother. I think the book becomes interesting only if one can identify oneself with the main character, but if one can do it one is already in trouble.
I couldn't disagree more! If a book like this was going to influence a reader to head down a dark path, then that psychology was already present with the reader before they opened the book. People read crime fiction all the time but that generally doesn't lead them to commit homicidal acts. If there is one thing this book isn't, in my humble opinion, it is boring. It's obvious to say, with a book like this, but the interest isn't found so much in what happens but rather in how the story is told, in the style of the prose. That is where the magic is found in serious literature and, if the author is capable enough, I would contend that a work of fiction could be about absolutely anything. Nothing off limits.
@@GregHarradineComposer Everything goes? Do you think it’s a good literary subject - sadistic pleasure from torturing another being? Or having sex with animals? As I said - literature affects people - in a good or bad way. The same as violent videogames. There was a theory that they didn’t matter but now there is enough proof that they do. They can help develop violent urges in young people or push a psychopath or sociopath (it’s 4-5% of population!) over the edge. Even if (as you say) the dark “psychology was already present with the reader before they opened the book” it doesn’t mean that it had to be encouraged or justified. By the way I strongly suspect that such “psychology” was present in the author of the book since he picked this unusual subject and spent so much time working on it.
Amazing !!!!👍👍
Thanks you Erica!
Such an Interesting info. Keep on sharing Greg.
Thanks, I appreciate you watching!
💫Super like 🥂🥂
Thank you!
from the Oregonion, Oct. 2023: ..."the Canby School District has chosen to remove just one: Russian American novelist Vladimir Nabokov’s celebrated and frequently banned “Lolita.” Four other books were restricted to Canby High School students...." Kudos to Nabokov for his staying power!
👍👍👍
Thanks Peter!
I don’t think an author should seduce his readers to look into the deep chasms of pathological urges. It may be fun for him, a chance to practice his skills and boost his popularity or a way to get rid of his own troubling impulses but for some readers the result can be damaging. Literature can influence people both ways - good and bad. A mature healthy reader will take it as it is - a piece of fiction (though based on the real event), a kind of experiment in the study of human psychology. Such reader can appreciate how well it is written. Others may be drawn to its dark side. With some authors one has to tie oneself to the mast in order to resist their dangerous calls. I’ve read the book in Russian and it didn’t touch me. It seemed unnecessary and - yes - a little boring. I disliked the main character from the start when he described his relationship with Lolita’s mother. I think the book becomes interesting only if one can identify oneself with the main character, but if one can do it one is already in trouble.
I couldn't disagree more! If a book like this was going to influence a reader to head down a dark path, then that psychology was already present with the reader before they opened the book. People read crime fiction all the time but that generally doesn't lead them to commit homicidal acts. If there is one thing this book isn't, in my humble opinion, it is boring. It's obvious to say, with a book like this, but the interest isn't found so much in what happens but rather in how the story is told, in the style of the prose. That is where the magic is found in serious literature and, if the author is capable enough, I would contend that a work of fiction could be about absolutely anything. Nothing off limits.
@@GregHarradineComposer Everything goes? Do you think it’s a good literary subject - sadistic pleasure from torturing another being? Or having sex with animals? As I said - literature affects people - in a good or bad way. The same as violent videogames. There was a theory that they didn’t matter but now there is enough proof that they do. They can help develop violent urges in young people or push a psychopath or sociopath (it’s 4-5% of population!) over the edge. Even if (as you say) the dark “psychology was already present with the reader before they opened the book” it doesn’t mean that it had to be encouraged or justified. By the way I strongly suspect that such “psychology” was present in the author of the book since he picked this unusual subject and spent so much time working on it.
I could listen to you talk about literature for hoursss 🥹
Too kind, Reno! Most of my videos are about music, but I do have a special love for literature. Should I make more videos about books?