The value of literature

[unleashed]

glad i could share this with you, had to delete it though because i wrote it for school and our teachers check if we copied something off the net...

[HotKarl]

You're preachin' to the choir there bud.

[summersun]

United society? You mean that we are all more closely connected? I believe literature is a valuable support to create the individual. Don't you adapt or change your opinion according to what you read? And doesn't it inspire the individual to speak out for oneself too? That is what you should also see as a true value. Now that is, why we are not one united society.

But it's interesting to know that you know about Goethe's book. It was the "Sturm und Drang" time in which emotions and all that were expressed, of which the sorrows of the young werther was one book written at that time.

[Amundsen]

You are right. Literature has a great value and it makes me feel bad when I see people in my age category doing some stupid activity. F.e. drinking alcohol(a lot), taking drugs and watching soap operas. :-) Also there are more than I wrote here. But (only my opinion) maybe it's good, that literature and knowledge stays with inteligence caste.

[rachel_bookworm]

I think the power of literature lies in it's universal appeal. Everyone can relate to a great book they've read. It establishes personal and cultural identity, whilst also providing a learning axis in other areas of society for people that aren't aware of historical/global affairs.

I for example, white British female, am (it seems) obsessed with African-American literature. I have learnt so much of the struggle of black Americans from the works of Toni Morrison, James Baldwin and Alice Walker. These historical accounts fixated on personal conflict makes me passionate about the issues underlying racism etc. that feature in the works of these authors.



I agree amundsen, it also makes me sad seeing the significance of literature being ignored. I think if you are educated in literature it may become more exciting to read.

Although, I have been studying English Literature at uni for the past 3 years now and when I read texts that aren't in my syllabus i find myself constantly looking for the historical, social, metaphorical etc etc connections! Not sure if this makes my read more or less enjoyable, anyone in the same position??

[Morten]

You are right. Literature has a great value and it makes me feel bad when I see people in my age category doing some stupid activity. F.e. drinking alcohol(a lot), taking drugs and watching soap operas. :-) Also there are more than I wrote here. But (only my opinion) maybe it's good, that literature and knowledge stays with inteligence caste.
Hm. You do realize that a vast majority of the writers you probably like drank alcohol (a lot) and took drugs.

[Amundsen]

Hm. You do realize that a vast majority of the writers you probably like drank alcohol (a lot) and took drugs.

Yeah I realize that they do. But they write something, maybe they are finding some inspiration. I thought people who aren't creating art. Drugs. They took from us a lot of good people, but without them we wouldn't have a lot of art masterpices or books. We wouldn't know Timothy Leary :) . Everybody has his or her dark side, for that we couldn't like him or her. But nevertheless I like them

[Nighteyes5678]

Now I'm sad I missed this... =(