What is the Moral Effect of Literature?

[nerdynic]

What is the moral effect of literature? Is it good or bad? Is there a moral effect at all?

[Logos]

Very rarely do I change my morals or values according to what I've read, for me it's more of a case of nodding in assent when I read something I agree with :D

I `collect' writers who have proven through their own life and (sometimes) works that they have similar morals and outlook in life as my own.

So, this gives me the illusion that I'm of course entirely correct in what my beliefs are because there is so much importance placed on respectable peer-reviewed publications. Right!?

However when I do read something that is contrary to what I believe in, depending on how the message is put forth, I welcome the differing perspective.

Of course there is moral effect with some `literature'. Look at the moral outrage that some expressed at Ellis's `American Psycho', or Brown's `DaVinci code'. Brown (unorginally) attempts to explode the very foundation of Christianity. He reworks a bunch of myths and uses a lot of pre-existing scientific theory which doesn't really bother me on a moralistic level, but a lot of people feel he's not (as the many others before him) entitled to, or, shouldn't be re-hashing or profiting from that conflict. (see Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ)

Of course the movie for it will be out soon and the outrage at it and Tom Hanks can start all over again. (sorry not trying to turn this into specific religious discussion, but `morals' are closely related to religious `literature')

[Logos]

Oh! and welcome to the Lit Network. :)

[mono]

Very rarely do I change my morals or values according to what I've read, for me it's more of a case of nodding in assent when I read something I agree with :D

I `collect' writers who have proven through their own life and (sometimes) works that they have similar morals and outlook in life as my own.
Logos said it best here. I have read many, many books that I agree or disagree with, but often enjoy them all the more. I feel, somehow, that persisting with one's own sole ideas, morals, and theories gains wisdom, but the gathering of others' ideas, morals, and theories gains knowledge. I cannot claim to have either in any great amount (:D), but, overall, I would like to think that no book would entirely change a person's morals, only perhaps altering one's thinking.
Welcome to the forum, nerdynic. :)

[baddad]

Welcome Nerdynic. Your question sounds like a little piece of vague bait a professor might throw out to his class in an attempt to hook a thinker. I do hope this is not homework.....

IMHO.....Literature is often nothing BUT moral play, an author's point of view debunking theories unlike his own. Morals are fluid. Morals are cultural. Morals can be biblical or pop-cultural. But unlike Logos or Mono (whom I would never disparage) I believe that literature can sway/enlighten/provoke a response or change in moral thinking. Enlightenment is spawned from knowledge, and knowledge is often revealed through literature. People of a younger age are more likely to encounter a new/different moral perspective through the written word (great literature in particular) as opposed to their peers. While every generation's peer groups usually share a melting-pot morality suited to their times, those few who dare to look beyond the obvious reap substantial insights that may sway their particular peer-induced vision of morality. *wonders to himself just what the Hell all that means...??)

[adilyoussef]

Yes, as baddad says, literature focus always on moral things. Be it in religion or not, literature aimes to convei a message to its readership. A litarary work that has no morality in it is considered as no literature at all, for me at least.

[Snukes]

*uh, Da Vinci Code spoiler included...*

It astonishes me when people take works of fiction - I'm excluding nonfiction entirely from this reply - and swallow them whole, either claiming the "truths" contained as their own, or working up a righteous ire over the idiot who dared declare such blaspemy.

After using such words, I should clarify that the books which spring to mind regarding this question all have religous themes or tones. Take, for example, the Da Vinci Code. The very reason it became so wildly popular was for the way it shook up people's beliefs. (And maybe because the Catholic church said you shouldn't read it. I think they said that...)

I met a woman just the other day who, in the course of a conversation about religion, wanted to know if I knew that Jesus had a wife. Uhm... Well, I read a novel once that said he did... No no! He really did. It was Mary Magdalene. You can see it in all the paintings.

*sigh*

Another one is Christopher Moore's Lamb. He had to include a disclaimer in the end apologizing to all the people he would potentially offend with his fiction, although he made the very fine point that if a work of religious satire is enough to rumple your pants, you have more serious religious issues to deal with...

[Mark F.]

You all brought up interesting points, what about the Bible, the Coran or the Torah? It's true that moral is very closely linked to religion cause our society was built around it.
I don't believe a book can really change a person's way of thinking but it does open up one's mind.

[mono]

It astonishes me when people take works of fiction - I'm excluding nonfiction entirely from this reply - and swallow them whole, either claiming the "truths" contained as their own, or working up a righteous ire over the idiot who dared declare such blaspemy.
Indeed, same here. One could say the same about works like James Redfield's The Celestine Prophecy. I cannot deny enjoying the novel, but admit that some aspects in it seem a litte out-of-this-world and unbelievable.

You all brought up interesting points, what about the Bible, the Coran or the Torah? It's true that moral is very closely linked to religion cause our society was built around it.
I don't believe a book can really change a person's way of thinking but it does open up one's mind.
I never thought of this while commenting or reading this thread. Thank you for bringing it up, Mark F. Out of any book that could change a person's morals/ethics/beliefs, someone could definitely say any religious text (Bible, Koran, Torah, Bhagavad Gita, Necronomicon, etc.). Anyone could see this with obvious proof, not depending on his/her location in the world, since religion seems, generally, a world-wide practice.

[birdfly]

some writers wanna change the readers' morals,but no one knows if it works,I think its not either right or wrong to change your mind by a novel.