A Book is a Loaded Gun

I’m sure a decent amount of us have had the experience of sitting in a circle as an English teacher rambled on and on about the reasoning behind a description of blue curtains (or something equally as mundane). And I’m sure a fair few of you rolled your eyes at said teacher with the hopes that he would just shut up. That type of reaction is exactly what the internet has taken to when it comes to literary analysis, rejecting the notion that those curtains could mean anything more than what they are—blue. This hostile approach to analysis has brought forth a tidal wave of anti-intellectualism, with constant repeating of the phrases “it’s not that deep” or “it’s not that serious” in regard to any form of literary criticism.

Of course, with anti-intellectualism also comes the rise of equally shallow novels. These novels are, as I like to say, “popcorn books”: safe, digestible, and mass produced—like print versions of Hallmark films. There is no passion, no intrigue, and no depth. The readers of today will rest easy, knowing all villains are simply misunderstood, enemies will always turn into lovers, and everything will be tied into a neat bow by the last page. By mindlessly consuming book after book, the internet is collectively telling authors that they do not have to try. Good writing is overrated; just turn your brain off.

And heaven forbid you try to critique these modern books, because you will be met with the internet’s favorite response of “just let people enjoy things.” In actuality, they are fully aware of the flaws within the book but choose to ignore them in favor of mindless entertainment. Everything in the literary world has become black and white—you either love something more than your own family or you’re simply a soulless hater with a superiority complex. Nuance is dead.

Sure, I read for escapism, but that does not mean I value escapism over quality. I don’t read books to be spoon-fed my own amusement. I don’t want to turn my brain off. In my mind, criticism is the deepest form of adoration. No, the curtains are not just blue. The author wouldn’t have taken the time to describe it if it didn’t mean something. Anti-intellectualism and modern novels are a direct rejection of beauty, nuance, and everything that makes books worth reading. It is a regression into ignorance and promoting a lack of critical thinking.

The internet has created a world where a book must make you feel safe for it to be enjoyed. But, “enjoyable” does not equal “comfortable.” Personally, my favorite novel is The Picture of Dorian Gray. It’s gothic horror, a genre constructed to make you uncomfortable. But more importantly, it is a genre that promotes self-reflection by showing you the horrors of what man can do. It draws you in with beautiful language and imagery, but what lies in the attic of its pages is a portrait that forces you to face every corrupt thought or action you’ve ever committed.

A book is a loaded gun. Treat it with respect.

-By Miss Sirius Lee

  II Thess. 3:17