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The aim of literature [...] is the
creation of a strange object covered with fur which breaks your heart."
Donald Barthelme
When I read this quote, I had to think if it applied to the romance genre. Some romance authors write paranormal, where the story could feature a young heroine living in a far-distant planet colony who finds a sentient alien fur ball that is so darn cute, she adopts it as a pet and then bawls her eyes out after she lets it lick a spoonful of whipped cream and it suffers a terminal allergic reaction. The alien full ball was about to attack and take over her body, but she doesn't learn that until she and the teenage heartthrob hero compare notes late one night during one of their secret petting sessions.
But I can be less literal and say the aim of a romance is to write a story about two strangers whose rocky (hairy) relationship tugs at your heartstrings until they finally find the path to their HEA.
Not sure this would apply to all literature e.g. horror stories? More likely to scare you to death than break your heart!
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ReplyDeleteI can't even begin to think what Donald Barthelme was thinking when he made this quote.
How bizarre.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing that popped into my mind was shape-shifters. Ha!
I'm going to have to go with a figurative meaning here, since literal is making my brain hurt. But I love your story prompt! :) And I'd have to say it applies across all genres--because while not all of them end with love, they all make you feel something.
ReplyDeleteI think the quote is meant to be figurative, too, Jen. I liked it because I came to the same conclusion: literature triggers you feel something.
ReplyDeleteFirst thing I thought of was a cat throwing up! Left me very confused.
ReplyDeleteIck. That's literally literal, Carol!
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