Wise words

[sun_set_bravely]

from Writer's Almanac this morning; emphasis mine:

Her [Grace Paley's] short stories are often about the lives of ordinary people in New York, especially women. Many of her stories don't have much action or plot. She wrote in the short story "A Conversation with My Father": "[Plot] takes all hope away. Everyone real or invented deserves the open destiny of life."

. . .

also

Jim Harrison [author of "Legends of the Fall"] said, "I like grit, I like love and death, I'm tired of irony.... A lot of good fiction is sentimental.... I would rather give full vent to all human loves and disappointments, and take a chance on being corny, than die a smartass."

Comments

On Irony

[freak1c.livejournal.com]

Do you remember the article that you showed me from the NYT on "The Death of Irony?" I wonder if you still have that, I'd like to revisit it. Perhaps I can find it on MicroFiche.

At the time I wasn't sure that the buildings being knocked down would actually have a literary effect like that. But looking back on it, I think it really might have. Irony, as a device, certainly isn't dead, and really can't die. It's an important tool - when used appropriately. However it does seem like we were using Irony as a shield, as a filter, and really as a protective cloak.

People describe themselves and view themselves as sarcastic in their yearbooks, etc...becuase it seems a lot easier to be that than to be real. I'm learning, being real isn't easy at all. It'd be much simpler to hide behind a thin smile and make witty comments.

This is becoming evident in music, in writing, and I think in media as well. Bands are coming into popularity that mean what they say - even if that isn't much or doesn't seem like 'art.' We've talked about this before - but Creed - although corny - at least means what they say. And for that I give them credit. Britney even isn't being ironic, she sings like she means it.

[i have no references to back up my statements. it's all me here. kind of scary.]

Re: On Irony

[sun-set-bravely.livejournal.com]

If I printed the article out, it's probably in the News bin under my bed. Your best bet is microfiche, because my bin ain't organized in any sense of the word.

At the Woodhull discussion last night, Kate (the speaker) listed "wearing your heart on your sleeve" as one of the ways to get what you want in life. She said that many of the younger (20s) women that work for her try too hard to be super-cool, and not care about anything. But caring about something, being passionate enough to fight for it, is how we get what we want in this world. She used a great phrase "you want to be a hot tamale instead of a cool cucumber." I like that. I think it has to do with irony's departure as a way of interacting with the world. It just keeps you too far removed.