I remember getting into just such a discussion while in college, (mumblety) years ago. It was no more productive, but it sure felt profound. Now — not so much.
Let me throw out this alternative suggestion. I think it's great to recommend what is commonly deemed "good literature." I.e., books that have sophisticated plotlines and characters, that don't necessarily end with neat or happy endings, that use interesting vocabulary and imagery and sentence construction.
It's also great to be able to say, "Y'know, I really don't care for a salmon-quinoa salad with cherry compote and an truffle-avocado creme fraiche demiglaze. I'll have the caesar salad, anchovies on the side" — and not be told that I have an immature palate, or that I'm not supporting the right causes, or that the truffles are fair trade and therefore morally superior to my croutons.
It's wonderful to offer someone a 1953 Chateau-neuf-du-pape, with explanation of the subtle bouquet, the enchanting mouthfeel, and the complex interplay of tannins and fruit that can be attributed to the particularly dry summer after a late, wet winter that year on that side of that particular village. And, in fact, I might even enjoy a taste of it. Or, perhaps, right now, I'll have a beer. Or a Coke. Or a caipiranha.
Enjoy your tastes. Offer to share them with others. And, yes, explore other things. Learn to recognize the differences — not in a judgmental way but in an informed way. But heavy sighing and rolled eyes and tut-tutting makes you sound …
Well, Ms. Graham, whenever you have to start a sentence with "at the risk of sounding snobbish and joyless and old," you might want to reconsider what you are about to say, because it most likely is not just sounding that way.
(h/t +Les Jenkins)
Yes, Adults Should Be Embarrassed to Read Young Adult Books
As The Fault in Our Stars barrels into theaters this weekend virtually guaranteed to become a blockbuster, it can be hard to remember that once upon a time, an adult might have felt embarrassed to be caught reading the novel that inspired it. Not because it is bad—it isn’t—but because…
I like the one comment:
"YA is most definitely not a genre. It is a marketing classification intended to let parents know there isn't any scary sex, just like "G rated" is not a genre of film. The author's argument is effectively the same as saying there are no worthy classic G rated films, and anyone who watches G rated films should be ashamed."
That pretty much sums up my thoughts on this piece of trash, click bait article.
+Nick McIntosh I suspect that there are film aficionados who would make just that sort of claim, that the age and content restrictions of the G rating make true cinematic art impossible.
I'd classify their arguments the same way.
This whole thing is one of the reasons why I dislike the term "genre fiction," as if carrying the SF, Fantasy, Mystery, Horror, Whatever label suddenly makes something less worthwhile reading. "YA" is simply a variant of that (beyond being, as you note, simply a marketing tool).
I still find Robert A. Heinlein's YA novels to be his most enjoyable works.
I agree with you and I think most people do too. But this has made me wonder why the parrallel in music does not seem to work as well. There is a contempt for pop music despite it's obvious popularity. Is the difference mainly that music is more prevalent in what most people do everyday so it has a chance to annoy those that don't enjoy a particular type?
Dammit Dave. Not a single "fuck" in your rant. Makes mine look positively uncouth in comparison.
I wanted to post something my mother could read. 😉 [waves at Mom]