Korean Job Discussion Forums

borracho · Joined: 23 Jan 2003

Should contemporary be judged (at least in part) on whether or not it addresses pressing social issues? Does it have to be socially relevant to make a contribution to literature?

banjois · Joined: 14 Nov 2009

rocket_scientist · Joined: 23 Nov 2009 Location: Prague

Contemporary social issues? Which contemporary social issues, do you feel, merit coverage in todays literature?

ChopChaeJoe · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

Yes, but that's pretty much unavoidable anyway.

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

I think contemporary literature should be judged on how well it resonates with contemporary readers

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

.38 Special · Joined: 08 Jul 2009 Location: Pennsylvania

Contemporary. Written relative to something else in time.

Faulkner was contemporary to Frost.

Contemporary that is not relative. Recent.

Content is not relevant.

Were you to attempt to define a contemporary literary canon you would need criteria much more specific than "social issues." Many social issues retain relevance for centuries. Poverty, prejudice, class, gender, etc. -- these issues never go away, have always been relevant, and are certainly contemporary issues. All that changes is circumstance.

Canon definition is pointless, in my humble opinion. Just roll with what you want to read or teach. Want to teach social alienation/seperation? You'd be no worse off teaching Don Quiote than Catcher in the Rye. Both will generate rewarding analysis and discussion. Vastly different, yes, but equally valid and interesting.