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Beth Raps's avatar

Of the 11 guesses, the one that most fascinates me is #3: "fiction in Western contemporary culture, especially since the Cold War, tends to focus on individual characters tackling dilemmas and challenges on their own, without reference to “any community, ideology, or political system.” (Annie Levin, “How Creative Writing Programs De-Politicized Fiction,” Current Affairs, April 18, 2022.) There is something deeply wrong about this, but true to our hyperindividualism as a culture. I read a lot, and this has bothered me but inchoately, it wasn't something I could easily put my finger on. I just read Vagabonds! by Eloghosa Osunde, set in Nigeria, and the difference is very easy for me to put my finger on: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/667821/vagabonds-by-eloghosa-osunde/ Thank you for your 11 guesses! + each other thing you included in the latest piece +have written on this website!

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VM's avatar

I really enjoy your newsletter !

The observation about the lack of activist characters in fiction, with realistic day life around their work for the cause they support, is so true.

I like the fact that you put links inside the text. Those links and the fact that you refer to recent other articles, show that you are solid in what you bring us. You are not stagnant in your knowledge about the subject. That saves the idea that activism is a relevant mode of communication in a democracy. It is actual even if it is often depicted as savage or past date.

I like also your approach of hypothesis and bringing inputs of informations with respect of the intelligence of the reader to make his own mind (to agree or not with some points, let go his own curiosity/focus on others...).

Would you be open to, one day, offer your observations about societal conflicts VS internal and external conflicts in fiction ?

Bravo for your good work !

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