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Forums » Mlle Kumquat's Enlightened Salon » Mass Market Vs. Trade Fiction - A Poll
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Kumquat21
Topic: Mass Market Vs. Trade Fiction - A Poll
Cast your votes. What does the public really want? So-called literature or mass market popular fiction? I don't have anything against either, but I'm curious. And add why!
#1 Dec 21st 2007, 5:53pm
dbz 77
Cast your votes. What does the public really want? So-called literature or mass market popular fiction? I don't have anything against either, but I'm curious. And add why!

The public wants popular fiction.

All that so-called literature started out as popular fiction.

Michael

#2 Dec 22nd 2007, 9:43am
Alice Potato
-I- want popular fiction, at least. I don't much care for so-called 'literature', unless it was written before 1900 or so. :P
#3 Jan 01st, 10:10am
KnittingKneedle
Popular fiction...or the biographies of celebrities which are so warped they might as well be fiction.
#4 Jan 06th, 11:46am
Kumquat21
All that so-called literature started out as popular fiction.

Then is your definition of Literature aged fiction? In my definition, Literature is something new yet exquisite, a totally new style of book that shows a situation in a certain view, writes with an unheard voice, does not parrot back what has already been read a million times over or follow many recent trends of a genre. So, in my mind, originality is an important factor in defining literature - although I also think some works that exemplify a genera count as literature. I guess the real problem is defining literature . . . ?

Look, even wikipedia doesn't know! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literary_merit

Popular fiction...or the biographies of celebrities which are so warped they might as well be fiction.

Do I detect a hint of bitterness here . . .?

#5 Jan 24th, 5:49pm
Alice Potato
I've always defined literature as the sort of stuff you're forced to read in school. Most popular fiction wouldn't be considered literature because English teachers/book critics/etc. hate "genre" fiction. _
#6 Jan 24th, 6:46pm
concerto49
It doesn't matter what it is - as long as it's good. There should be no restrictions. Any genre/topic/etc can be perfect. It all depends on the contents.
#7 Jan 25th, 2:18am
Kumquat21
It doesn't matter what it is - as long as it's good. There should be no restrictions. Any genre/topic/etc can be perfect. It all depends on the contents.

Hear hear to that! But what about public opinion? You can't say there's no snobbishness in literature, and likewise the opposite - ie, why the heck was Gossip Girl a best seller?!?

#8 Feb 03rd, 6:07am
Alice Potato
why the heck was Gossip Girl a best seller?!?

Because it's utter crap and thus hilarious to read? I dunno, that's my excuse. (Though to be fair, I wouldn't spend money on 'em.)

#9 Feb 03rd, 11:30am
concerto49
There are a lot of other factors contributing to sales than just a good product. One of them is successful advertising. No matter how good it is, if no one knows about it, something like that would be a little useless.

Sometimes it's also just things like time and trend and what not. Perhaps a little luck and everything else as well. It's hard to say.

#10 Feb 03rd, 4:24pm

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