Dana Michelle Burnett
Follow on
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Books
  • Blog
  • Contact Dana Michelle Burnett
  • For Readers
  • ♥ FREE Stuff ♥

Literature or Smut:  Fifty Shades of Grey

5/31/2012

2 Comments

 
Picture
You would think as people we would learn, but apparently we don't.  I am amazed that Fifty Shades of Grey is causing the controversy that it is and that people are actually debating if it is true literature or not.  I mean seriously, haven't we figured it out by now that literature is art and all art is subjective?

I will admit that while the book is on my list of books to read this summer, I haven't gotten to it yet, but that's not the point.  I just don't understand how we can still be arguing this.

I look through the reviews and it seems that most people either love or hate this book, there doesn't seem to be an in between.  People on the street are no different, complaining that this novel glorifies the abuse of women.  Just because you read that a certain character acts a certain way, doesn't mean that you agree.  Have you ever read a book about a crime?  What about a western?  Since people aren't riding around on horses through down town Manhattan, I'm assuming that people can separate fiction from reality.  So this really just comes down to a moral question.


Picture
When I was in high school, I got caught reading Lolita and was sent to the principal's office.  The principal berated me for reading "smut" and polluting my mind.  I argued that Lolita was a great work of literature and that most people in the literary world agreed even if they didn't like the circumstances in the book.  I also mentioned that it was a prize winning novel.

This educated man informed me that trash like that should never be considered literature and that I should be ashamed of myself for read pornography.  He threatened to call my parents (who were the ones that bought me the book) and inform them of what a disgrace I was.

Now, back in the day, I was a little bit of a smartass (can you believe that?).  I told him that I wanted him to call my parents, make them leave work, and come down to his office so that he could tell them how I got caught reading a (gasp) book.

He decided against it and sent me on to my next class, but not before warning me that I best change my ways if I wanted to amount to anything.  Oh, and he also kept my book.

Now that was twenty years ago.  It's sad to think that so many people still hold the same opinion as that public high school principal.  What separates smut from literature and who decides?  Me personally, I'm looking forward to reading the book, but if I did find it offensive, I would take the strongest stand possible for one person by not buying it.

What are your thoughts?  Are we intelligent enough to make our own choices?  Do erotica novels such as Fifty Shades or Grey and Lolita deserve a place in literary history?  And my own personal question

2 Comments
Leelia
6/6/2012 04:37:07 am

Hi, I love your blog...:)

I don't care what the critics say! I love this book, and people need to just get over it haha.

I know that you post other authors, and do interviews, but I wanted to know if you do fan based recommendation stuff too lol? Here's another author who is taking hits because she's different too.

I just wanted to let you know about this author I've been reading, Alexandria Infante, author of Teaching between Midnight and dawn. I think she is a talented author (her book came out last year, but I just found it), and the fact that she is Latina in this genre is awesome. In the paranormal field, you don't see many Latinas, and the ones that you do see, don't seem to get the reconiztion that they should.

Her book is somewhere between Twilight, Underworld and Interview with the vampire; all based off of Egyptian myths.

I love the fresh new characters, and the fact that her main female character is Latina. I would say to everyone out there, check out her books and her site. Don't be put off by the fact that she's a minority, her work is amazing!

leelia Mendoza

Reply
Dana Michelle Burnett link
6/6/2012 12:40:01 pm

Sounds like an interesting book and I love books with ethnic characters!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Romance too Epic for Just One Lifetime...

    Stay up to date with the latest releases from Dana Michelle Burnett!
    Stay Updated

    This Girl Loves Books

    Picture
    Zazzle Store

    RSS Feed


    Affiliate Disclaimer:
    Dana Michelle Burnett is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to (Amazon.com, or Endless.com, MYHABIT.com, SmallParts.com, or AmazonWireless.com).

    Archives

    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photo from Wright Way Photography