5HC Question

Jeffrey Lefstin · 26 Jul 2006, 18:59 · from 2006-July.txt.gz

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From: jeff.lefstin at stanfordalumni.org (Jeffrey Lefstin)
Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2006 11:59:09 -0700
Subject: (urth) 5HC Question
In-Reply-To: <mailman.7640.1153938050.295.urth-urth.net at lists.urth.net>
References: <mailman.7640.1153938050.295.urth-urth.net at lists.urth.net>
Message-ID: <932e3aae0f469fdf7eb85beb8ea92647 at stanfordalumni.org>

Sorry b, I wasn't meaning to define or limit "literature."  I guess I 
need a word that means "literature with richly embroidered layers of 
meaning and symbol." if there is one and if that isn't too mixed of a 
metaphor.

Another GW recycling from short story to novel I forgot to mention:  
The "overmonitor" program in the ship in Silhouette is supposedly wiped 
from the mainframe, but survives by distributing itself to little 
computers in appliances and such.  Same as Pas in BotSS.

Jeff

>
> I disagree with Jeffrey Lefstin's definition of "literature" as works 
> in
> which "characters
> and things are very often richly symbolic".  What do you call enduring
> classics which don't rely on symbolism and multiple subtext levels to 
> engage
> a reader?  Aren't there many great works of literature which are such
> because they rely on an interesting story, interesting character
> development, witty dialogue or interesting historical context?  Why 
> limit so
> narrowly?
>

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