Saturday 23 August 2008

Best of times?

This is a post well worth reading.

Well, the whole blog is, but this struck a particular chord with me as I have often wondered what happened to the great tradition of social novels and plays with which we were once blessed; the great satirical works.

It is true we do still get social commentary in novels, but on the whole we seem to be dished up a diet of white bread and circuses - and this is nowhere more apparent than on television. Circuses in which bullying seems to be the central tenet and in which we are subjected to the 21st century equivalent of entertaining ourselves by visiting Bedlam.

7 comments:

Rachel Green said...

She makes a good point but the bookshelves are flooded with mis-lit, IMO.

BT said...

Thanks for directing me to that post, Graeme, it's superbly written and so so true. Maybe the lady in question should have a go herself? I'm sure she's capable.

Graeme K Talboys said...

This is very true. Misery we can do without. But I suspect a sharp satirist wouldn't go amiss.

Papoosue said...

Hmm, an interesting blog, Graeme. I've thought much the same myself, on several of the points made - nice to see things put so eloquently.

Zinnia Cyclamen said...

Read this earlier in the week, wasn't feeling clever enough to comment, but just saw your comment on the Novel Racers' coffee break post so I popped back to send you an e-hug.

Graeme K Talboys said...

Aw. Thanks. It's much appreciated.

Lane Mathias said...

Thanks for the link Graeme. Very interesting.

Satire seems to be the premise of the comedian rather than the writer at the moment. (I'm thinking people like Bird and Fortune, if I've got their names right).

A good satirical writer wouldn't go amiss though.