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Focus on Books:
Literary events and the book market
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Who judges our creative works? What
are the underlying factors that go to the making of a reliable literary
critic? These two questions have always been a hairsplitting debate
regarding the ultimate aesthetic judgment. Perhaps the awarding units
have a major
role to play on the selection of board of judges
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Professor Sunanda MAHENDRA
The season of literary events are just at the threshold with a few
weeks away. It is happy news to the literary enthusiast, the book lover,
the bookmaker and the publisher. A number of preparations is in the
pipeline for the annual state literary ceremony, while the State Drama
Festival has just started.
More and more new play texts are written and produced, while they are
being considered and evaluated by literary critics. The literary awards
are bestowed for the best creative works that cover poetry, fiction,
drama and translation. Still there lies a grave controversy on
transparencies and the evaluation process.
Who judges our creative works? What are the underlying factors that
go to the making of a reliable literary critic? These two questions have
always been a hairsplitting debate regarding the ultimate aesthetic
judgment. Perhaps the awarding units have a major role to play on the
selection of board of judges.
What is literary taste?
I am not familiar with the way it is done at times. The availability
of the literary judges and their calibre is a valid factor. But may it
be so, the units of execution should be generous enough to exhibit the
factor with a transparent vision. The late professor Ediriweera
Sarachchandra once said he has no faith in most local literary critics,
even though his works have been awarded ultimately.
I picked up this factor from an article written by the late professor
on December 2, 1990 in a certain Sinhala literary supplement.
He underscores how some literary critics have failed in their
missions as being fallen down from the pedestals of the elevation of
taste. His novel Vilasiniyakage Premaya was based on a Jataka tale
bearing a complex human experience.
Ultimate judgment
The process of the narrative, though opened new visuals in the
creativity, was never well received by the literary critics of the day,
inclusive of some of his own pupils. But in answer to their remarks
Sarachchandra requested them to rethink of this literary critic's role
before passing any ultimate judgment. The tools of criticism should be
known from the creative work itself.
This has not been an all-time phenomenon on the other hand. The
conventional literary critics of the day try to apply some measures
known by them to evaluate the work that lies before them. The
reliability of the function of a literary critic lies on the wider
perspectives or she is encircled. Then comes the judgment from the
masses. What we deem by the popular taste may not be a correct aesthetic
judgment. This has happened time and again.
Role of the publisher
There is quite a number of creative works which became instantly
popular among the readers, but flouted by the literary critics of the
day. Popular taste and the willingness of the majority and the aesthetic
judgment may be poles apart from each other. The book publishers too
have a duty and a responsibility in this direction. The selection of a
manuscript should be guided as a sacred act. This rarely happens in the
local literary field.
When a fairly well known writer presents his manuscript to a
publisher, the latter accepts it as worthy of publishing based on the
alacrity of the writer, who will accept at least half the promotion
measure of the publisher, thus stretching a helping hand via mass media
channels.
But alternatively, a better manuscript will be presented by a lesser
known creative writer. The publisher who so brings out the finished
product will not be happy about its promotion aspects. Some local
publishers have gone to the point of investing the author's share of
what he or she will get to promote the book.
Evil forces
This type of ambiguity lies as an evil force, it is believed to
happen in the publishing industry. I am not too sure if this happens in
any other part of the world.
Whatever is said and done, the literary and creative enthusiasm are
kindled. This I believe should be rooted down from the classrooms. Now
that the subject of media studies and communication has been introduced
to both O/Ls and A/ls, education could be performed to build a better
climate of opinion. In conclusion I like to quote the Canadian
communication scholar, Marshall Mcluhan who said, "I don't explain, I
only explore." [email protected] |
