tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827040061563065922.post550740944434593638..comments2024-03-27T23:06:03.736-05:00Comments on The Music Salon: Criticism, as She is DoneBryan Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09482696991279345516noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827040061563065922.post-63983318228572281402019-07-15T14:38:19.666-05:002019-07-15T14:38:19.666-05:00Given that the general public knows neither Dicken...Given that the general public knows neither Dickens nor Trollope, this is a catfight where the cats are dead. What does the public know about this? One thing: A Christmas Carol. It is unlikely that a majority of the public could link Dickens name to it unless they read the fine print on the ancient DVD cover gathering dust in the attic.<br /><br />There is a lesson here probably. The literary works that seem to survive almost unbidden are those with an element of fantasy to them particularly with a memorable character or two. Slice of life dates quickly.<br /><br />It is only through the use of drama (plays, movies) and / or music that such slices of life survive although even so there is pressure to revise and update. So we listen to Mozart operas, often scenically updated, not the plays they were based on. Or people went to see Oliver! who wouldn't read the book. Maurynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827040061563065922.post-58713588759562475252017-07-22T16:52:18.809-05:002017-07-22T16:52:18.809-05:00When it comes to Trollope and Dickens, I am firmly...When it comes to Trollope and Dickens, I am firmly in the both/and camp, at least in regards to their best works, but I found the Mamet article hilarious.<br /><br />If you're just starting the Barchester stories, I recommend beginning with Barchester Towers and then reading The Warden. It's chronologically out of order, but you'll actually care about the first couple of chapters of The Warden that way.JBBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15002439589820628442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827040061563065922.post-50777893490016130572017-07-22T15:17:06.907-05:002017-07-22T15:17:06.907-05:00I agree that Dickens (and Hemingway) are overrated...I agree that Dickens (and Hemingway) are overrated, but it's a bit rich for Mamet to pass judgment, a man so insecure about his own talent he slapped $25K fines on any theater staging discussions of his work. A small man who once had a gift for quick exchanges but hasn't done anything in 20 years, unless on counts as "work" besmirching the good name of Bertrand Russell by calling him a useful idiot for the Soviets. But, hey, who cares about facts and history when you're a New York celebrity?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827040061563065922.post-7746511855301884662017-07-22T12:03:34.628-05:002017-07-22T12:03:34.628-05:00Marc, I think that if you just Google the headline...Marc, I think that if you just Google the headline, it might take you to the article, bypassing the paywall.<br /><br />Thanks for the John Adams tip.<br /><br />(One of the things I really enjoyed about the essay was the nasty, vicious and very funny criticism!)Bryan Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09482696991279345516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827040061563065922.post-26736126391589838432017-07-22T11:57:01.433-05:002017-07-22T11:57:01.433-05:00'Oppressive and factitious affection' inde...'Oppressive and factitious affection' indeed-- who of readers or in the English literature faculties suffers this, these days? Am not able to leap the paywall alas but I imagine that I could answer each of Mamet's criticisms (yes, Dickens is sometimes not successful at his attempts at dialect-- and his present reputation as a novelist rests upon these? yes, some characters are more complete than others-- in this he is different than which novelist? 'turgid prose'? coming from a screenwriter whose idea of a lengthy sentence of dialogue comprises seven words I may doubt that we share a common understanding of what 'turgid' means et cetera)-- but having made that point I will freely admit that I only regularly re-read two of his novels, ahem. One can appreciate both Dickens and Trollope!<br /><br />(Do you recall, offhand, addressing the distinction(s), such as it or they may be, between 'sonic art' and 'music'? John Adams's new opera Girls of the Golden West has occasioned a post with its comments <a href="http://slippedisc.com/2017/07/john-adams-i-finished-my-opera/" rel="nofollow">here</a> where the subject comes up.)Marc in Eugenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04331547981498637474noreply@blogger.com