Comments on: Has Anyone Seen The New Weird? http://markcnewton.com/2009/08/28/has-anyoneseen-the-new-weird/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Shaun http://markcnewton.com/2009/08/28/has-anyoneseen-the-new-weird/comment-page-1/#comment-1302 Shaun Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:00:36 +0000 http://blog.markcnewton.com/?p=1272#comment-1302 I thought there was some mitigation in the "agenda" of more obscure genres in literature and music since the spreading of the internet. In some ways, this is very positive (like in some genres of heavy metal music, which had starkly dogmatic and antisocial leanings in the 80's and 90's, which is mostly ridiculed these days). But on the other hand, there seems to be a greater demand for decidedly unserious literature that doesn't even try to be original, but just a pleasant mass product, that is a linear continuation of where the last trend set off (a book about orcs, about elves, magicians, black magicians, thieves, vampires ...). Originality or artistry are no longer real criteria, but they get indiscriminately subordinated to how "pleasant" a book is to read. But I think the influence of the internet was just a subjective idea I had, that can more easily and sufficiently be summarised with mainstream and all that falls outside of it. At least I'm not capable to make prolific use of it at the moment. I thought there was some mitigation in the “agenda” of more obscure genres in literature and music since the spreading of the internet. In some ways, this is very positive (like in some genres of heavy metal music, which had starkly dogmatic and antisocial leanings in the 80′s and 90′s, which is mostly ridiculed these days). But on the other hand, there seems to be a greater demand for decidedly unserious literature that doesn’t even try to be original, but just a pleasant mass product, that is a linear continuation of where the last trend set off (a book about orcs, about elves, magicians, black magicians, thieves, vampires …). Originality or artistry are no longer real criteria, but they get indiscriminately subordinated to how “pleasant” a book is to read.

But I think the influence of the internet was just a subjective idea I had, that can more easily and sufficiently be summarised with mainstream and all that falls outside of it. At least I’m not capable to make prolific use of it at the moment.

]]> By: Mark C Newton http://markcnewton.com/2009/08/28/has-anyoneseen-the-new-weird/comment-page-1/#comment-1277 Mark C Newton Sun, 06 Sep 2009 12:08:11 +0000 http://blog.markcnewton.com/?p=1272#comment-1277 Hi Shaun, Interesting points. And I suppose that's one silver-lining to the Twilight phenomenon... Do you think that fantasies today need to be harmless and palatable enough to succeed, because of such a culture? Hi Shaun,

Interesting points. And I suppose that’s one silver-lining to the Twilight phenomenon…

Do you think that fantasies today need to be harmless and palatable enough to succeed, because of such a culture?

]]> By: Shaun http://markcnewton.com/2009/08/28/has-anyoneseen-the-new-weird/comment-page-1/#comment-1275 Shaun Sun, 06 Sep 2009 09:12:18 +0000 http://blog.markcnewton.com/?p=1272#comment-1275 It might grow again at some point when all those young epic fantasy-, Potter-, and Twilight-lovers develop an interest for more complex stuff. I think Weird is not exactly a favorable term these days. The internet seems to work towards a homogenisation of the masses. Everything has to be smooth, shiny and harmless. But generally I think that there is something "weird" in any good book. From the movie-trailer I'd say that there is some truly weird stuff in Harry Potter (Voldemort's transmutations). It seems to be quintessential to art, even. Weird Fiction is just putting a special emphasis on it, embraces the darker parts of it and makes some formal adjustments. But these are just random ramblings. It might grow again at some point when all those young epic fantasy-, Potter-, and Twilight-lovers develop an interest for more complex stuff. I think Weird is not exactly a favorable term these days. The internet seems to work towards a homogenisation of the masses. Everything has to be smooth, shiny and harmless.

But generally I think that there is something “weird” in any good book. From the movie-trailer I’d say that there is some truly weird stuff in Harry Potter (Voldemort’s transmutations). It seems to be quintessential to art, even. Weird Fiction is just putting a special emphasis on it, embraces the darker parts of it and makes some formal adjustments.

But these are just random ramblings.

]]> By: Mark C Newton http://markcnewton.com/2009/08/28/has-anyoneseen-the-new-weird/comment-page-1/#comment-1253 Mark C Newton Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:00:58 +0000 http://blog.markcnewton.com/?p=1272#comment-1253 I think it's good to talk about books that may or may not be part of the NW, but there's little conscious effort to be part of any movement, nor is there much drive to experiment with the genre. Or to even get people talking about genre in terms other than aesthetics... I think it’s good to talk about books that may or may not be part of the NW, but there’s little conscious effort to be part of any movement, nor is there much drive to experiment with the genre. Or to even get people talking about genre in terms other than aesthetics…

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