…is Literature just a load of crepuscular?… great Guest Post from Author Kevin Brennan… #TBSU…

Our friend Seumas Gallacher is offering guest post slots at his magnificent storefront, so I asked if he’d mind posting this piece of mine from February. He agreed, and it’s up today!

Muchas gracias, mi amigo!

Seumas Gallacher

…here’s a ‘thinking’ piece Guest Post from my pal, Author Kevin Brennan… thanks for coming aboard, that man…

Yes, literature is elitist… thank God!

A while back, Salon’s Laura Miller asked the musical question, “Is the literary world elitist?”

My short answer? Yes.

Because it’s supposed to be. The word “literary” has a certain connotation, after all. In fact, the first definition of it in my dictionary says, “Concerning the writing, study, or content of literature, esp. of the kind valued for quality of form.” A few synonyms include: scholarly, learned, poetic, artistic, intellectual, cultured, erudite, and highbrow. Oh, and “bluestocking.” (Not sure what that is…)

Anyway, yes. The literary world is by definition elitist, but to my mind there’s nothing wrong with elitism. If we pretend to care about quality and cutting-edge, then it figures (to me, anyway) that elites in the various fields of endeavor —…

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