Apart from using different critical theories to examine other people's work, how can we use it when writing something of our own?
I seem to be trapped this morning with some natural obstructionists. Ah, committee meetings -- such fun!Medievalist said:Some of us are natural deconstructionists Birol
Birol said:Oh, I forgot deconstruction. That's a fun way of looking at the world. It deserves a thread all by its ownself.
Birol said:Apart from using different critical theories to examine other people's work, how can we use it when writing something of our own?
I agree with you, Cath. I think of it as reminding me that language is an active thing, not just a passive tool. It does things that are beyond my control. Some of that is reader-respondy things, readers reacting to the words I write in ways I never would have thought. Some of it, though, is as if the language is acting by itself, like a genie let loose.Cath said:I'll have a bash at this.
I believe an understanding of theory can help you make better choices - as a writer or in any other career. I find that an understanding of theory helps me see connections and think laterally, finding new ideas or paths or options. I don't think all this happens at a conscious level either.
Does that make sense? I'm still in the early stages of this theory.
ColoradoGuy said:Many novelists say off-hand things like "the story wrote itself," meaning, I suppose, that they are not completely in control of the language.
That's what I meant. I'm too oblique some times. Opaque, too. I do opaqueCath said:Do you mean that they are not in control because the words choose themselves at a subconscious level? - kind of where I was heading I think.
I mean that a little, too; some writers are not in control, but that's because they're bad writers.Cath said:Or were you saying that writers are not in control, i.e. they don't understand enough to use the right words? (which is how I read that the first time through).
I'm with you on that. I just want to understand the whole process as best I can.I believe understanding gives you control. It just happens under the surface instead of being a conscious battle all the time (at least, if you're really lucky).
ColoradoGuy said:Many novelists say off-hand things like "the story wrote itself," meaning, I suppose, that they are not completely in control of the language.