Blog Post #2

In the section titled “The nature of literature” from chapter 2 of “what is Literature, and Does it matter?” by Jonathan Culler, in this section of the chapter Culler defines “literature” from several angles. The angle I found most interesting is “literature as aesthetic object”.  In this angle Cullen is basically telling us that Literature is made with a purpose to construct a reading that has different phases and emotions that will work together throughout the reading to have an end. The artistic part of literature is  the ending itself. It’s a pleasure when making literature or occasioned the writing itself. For a text to be consider as literature the text as a whole has to contribute into creating an effect, emotion or art in the reader’s mind. But it doesn’t have a purpose to inform the reader about anything or convince the reader about anything and it’s not meant to accomplish anything in the reader. Literature is made as something to entertain the reader. It has a purposiveness and a writing or story has to be tellable and have qualities that make them a good story. Also it’s not attached to external purpose. This is what makes a story aesthetic for the reader and listener. It is something that will amuse them and cause an effect in them think a something worth reading or listening. I found this angle interesting because it explains how or when a text or writing can be considered as literature as well as how literature can be an aesthetic object that readers and listeners can consume. I also found this interesting because I think literature can be an art of work and cause   readers or listeners  and it’ s mostly used in fiction stories where it has a variety of qualities to amuse the reader.

1 thought on “Blog Post #2

  1. Edgar, your post does a good job of making the case for literature as an aesthetic object. I’m wondering what you would make of works that are overtly political, ones that mean to incite a desire for social change in readers.

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