Interesting convergence, in that I saw a lengthy discussion of this on social media, and then saw the topic raised here in another thread. The question, put in simple terms, is:
Whether and to what extent the author owes any duty to society, the art form, or any other party.
My answer to this is that the amount of duty owed by the author is ZERO.(*)
Often, but not always, the attempted imposition of such a duty is tied to looking down one's nose at writing one considers inferior from an artistic perspective, or that one does not feel adequately addresses whatever issues one finds important enough to warrant the time. But it's a strange concept, in my view. We're talking about a person's time and labor, often put forth without any guarantee of compensation (certainly, if you want to get rich there are better, faster, and more dependable ways than by writing fiction). What is really being said, then, is that you, or society, or the abstract concept of "art" has some claim to my time. That I should write in such and such a way, according to the precepts of...who? whomever, I suppose, in any given instance...and that by not doing so I'm somehow derelict in my duties.
Sorry, but no. I'm glad there are people who write literary fiction, artistic fiction, fiction with a deep message about the human condition. I love reading those works. I'm glad there are people who write light, adventure fiction. I love reading those as well. There is no reason whatsoever that a person who writes light adventure fiction, with no greater purpose than to entertain, should ever feel compelled to do more than just that, any more than one who writes literary fiction should be compelled to write something more accessible. It's not for you to decide what I write, any more than it is for me to decide what you write. I owe you nothing, and vice versa.
Divergent views welcomed, of course.
(*)one can make an argument that an author owes a reader investing time and/or money her best attempt at fulfilling the promise of the story itself--the promise to the reader inherent at the beginning of any tale--but that's not the sort of duty I'm concerned with.
Whether and to what extent the author owes any duty to society, the art form, or any other party.
My answer to this is that the amount of duty owed by the author is ZERO.(*)
Often, but not always, the attempted imposition of such a duty is tied to looking down one's nose at writing one considers inferior from an artistic perspective, or that one does not feel adequately addresses whatever issues one finds important enough to warrant the time. But it's a strange concept, in my view. We're talking about a person's time and labor, often put forth without any guarantee of compensation (certainly, if you want to get rich there are better, faster, and more dependable ways than by writing fiction). What is really being said, then, is that you, or society, or the abstract concept of "art" has some claim to my time. That I should write in such and such a way, according to the precepts of...who? whomever, I suppose, in any given instance...and that by not doing so I'm somehow derelict in my duties.
Sorry, but no. I'm glad there are people who write literary fiction, artistic fiction, fiction with a deep message about the human condition. I love reading those works. I'm glad there are people who write light, adventure fiction. I love reading those as well. There is no reason whatsoever that a person who writes light adventure fiction, with no greater purpose than to entertain, should ever feel compelled to do more than just that, any more than one who writes literary fiction should be compelled to write something more accessible. It's not for you to decide what I write, any more than it is for me to decide what you write. I owe you nothing, and vice versa.
Divergent views welcomed, of course.
(*)one can make an argument that an author owes a reader investing time and/or money her best attempt at fulfilling the promise of the story itself--the promise to the reader inherent at the beginning of any tale--but that's not the sort of duty I'm concerned with.
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