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I just read an essay by James Kelman, entitled “Elitism and English Literature, Speaking as a Writer.” Sounds really academic and bookish to me. Interestingly, the essay belongs to a collection of Mr. Kelman’s works compiled under one title, “And the judges said…” Essays, which was published in 2002.
Mr. Kelman started the particular piece I mentioned with childhood stories of visiting the library and reading books at the stereotyped progressive level. Naturally, right away, it got me hooked.
He mentioned stories about prince charming and their “batman” or servants and other compositions that belong to popular genres. He also differentiated a writer as an artist from a writer who is not. Then he went on about writing stories based on one’s experience.
A few pages later, I finally caught what he really means. Here are some few points to ponder:
“Those in authority ask the writer to censor and suppress her or his own work. They demand it. If you do not comply then your work is not produced. That is the way it is. That is the way it has always been. You land on the assembly line of compromise, the end result of which is dishonesty, deceit, falsity. Or else silence.”
“It is difficult to make the start and it is difficult to continue having faith in what you do, in the face of what often seems to be straightforward hostility. Writers have to develop the habit of relying on themselves.”
“Good literature is nothing when it is not being dangerous in some way or another and those in positions of power will always be suspicious of anything that might affect their security. True literary art makes some folk uncomfortable. It can scare them.”
“The folk in control of the power in society feel safest and most prefer it when writers agree to suppress and censor themselves. This happens throughout the media. Almost every writer working for the media, and wanting to continue working for the media, accepts that there are ‘dangerous’ things that are not to be written about and ‘dangerous’ language that is not to be used.”
Well, the essay is informative and concise. Frankly,I share similar sentiments.
The piece also got me into thinking that surely there are published stories out there that haven’t crossed Mr. Kelman’s path that are considered “true literary art” or products of the “freedom to write from the writer’s own experience.”
Somewhere in the middle of his essay, he posed a thought-provoking question, especially for writers and readers:
“Should we expect those in control of power in society to promote and encourage a literature that is explicitly concerned with the day-to-day existence of ordinary women and men? And by ‘ordinary’ here, the context is run-of-the-mill day-to-day experience, as experienced by the overwhelming majority of the population.”
Well, should we? Otherwise, we not at all free or independent as a people, the way we claim to be.
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My boyfriend and I went lot-hunting yesterday. Well, it’s for future purposes and a good investment (depending, of course, on the location). We went through three lots for sale in Yati, Liloan. All of them were located just beside two separate subdivision developments in the area. Their prices range from P1,500 to P1,600 per square meter on a lot that covers 200 to 500 square meters. They were also found several kilometers deep into more forested villages in town. The journey was not at all a fright but the ride sure was a bumpy one.
However, we immediately got turned off by the lack of titles and necessary documents the land owners have. Not that we can’t work on them should we decide to take the lot but a lot of extra expense and energy would be needed to get them done, minus the planning and building of a house that is yet to be built.
Interestingly, my boyfriend and I got more interested in the neighboring residential developments and prompted us once again to consider utilizing our Pag-Ibig benefits to buy a ready-built house. We’re not looking for a perfect home; we can create that within the family. Our physical house requirements are simple: a single detached house with garage on some 70 to 100 square meter of land in a gated community that is well equipped with water, electricity, good drainage system, and proper road networks. It should also be not far from Mandaue City. A good developer reputation comes next. At present, we are considering Camella Homes.
But should you have some suggestions, please let us know. We are willing to listen.
GUESTBOOK