Entertainment to suit the age
We seem to live in a sensationalist age, when things come to our notice only when they have become famous… or notorious. Celebrity-watching is super popular, and books seem to become instantly famous if they contain some controversy that brings them to the notice of the reporting and investigative media, more than literary critics or literary supplements.
Why is this? What is happening really? Are people losing interest in themselves in favour of celebrities? Are books becoming mere channels for discussion and debate? Perhaps this is simply a fashion or fad. It certainly has been going on for some time. There is a morbid interest among the general public for things that contain some sort of controversy.
Biographies of controversial figures have never sold better. Gossip magazines are the vehicles of sensationalism. Books with some sort of issue or argument can cause a storm and sell millions of copies. Everyone wants to know what the fuss is all about: everyone wants to share their opinion, and buy in on popular debate.
Perhaps it is because we live in an argumentative age. Perhaps it is because news travels so far and so fast it’s not enough for it to be just news … it’s got to raise dust, in the form of an argument. Look what happened to The Da Vinci Code. We look back now and wonder what came first: the media hype, or the debate and discussion? Were the publishers poised for the disputes and discussions, or did they know from the outset they were creating the environment for them? There are more questions than answers.
Interesting questions: and they continue to show their heads every time some stimulating book hits the bookstores. These sensations either last a month or two and disappear, giving place to others, or they live on and tantalise with their staying power to make people talk. Some of this is generated by the PR arms of publishing companies. Some of it is extended by the general need for a sensation. It’s a fashion, perhaps. It is certainly food for thought and fodder for conversations.
As an author, I have attempted to answer the question by writing a novel with a somewhat controversial topic. With According to Luke in circulation for over a year now, I think I can safely say that dust was not raised when it appeared: all reviews and comments are positive and full of praise. Perhaps it’s because the author is not interesting enough.
As a reader, I notice more and more celebrities coming out with revelations and declarations that sell their books because of their source, rather than their content.
As an observer of the book world and life in general, I see we are living in a ‘wishful thinking’ time, when great cooking, great interiors, great rags-to-riches stories, and the hidden talents of ordinary folk are the forms of entertainment chosen above all others. We are even fascinated by the physical problems, weight loss dramas, childrearing and marital disasters of others. It’s either a show of hope, or one of relief: there but by the grace of God go I.
Entertainment is – more than any other time, except possibly for during the two world wars and the Great Depression – full of hope. It is tangible in everything we use to divert ourselves.
That word, divert, which comes from the Italian “divertimento” or entertainment, is a telling one. It also means ‘distract’, or ‘channel away’. Thinking about this has implications about deeper things than mere entertainment. It brings up factors about the economy – wherever you happen to reside – the general prevailing social mood, and an overwhelming hint of dissatisfaction with one’s life.
I could be horribly wrong. If you disagree, please leave a comment. If you do agree, leave one too.
* * * * *
Rosanne Dingli’s fiction is widely available. She has written three novels and a number of story collections. Her newest novel, Camera Obscura, deals with location and deceit. Her most controversial novel is According to Luke. For more about Rosanne Dingli, visit her website, or her blog.
You may manage your subscription options from your profile.
We keep trying to suss out the reasons and the trends – to no avail. For me, I read to be taken away from real life. I love puzzles and questions about justice and morality. I want to relate to characters. I avoid gore and psychological horror. But I can only speak for myself. Who knows what the rest of the reading world wants? Not I.
Rosanne, everybody has a story to tell. Few however, know how to tell it well. This past three weeks have been tough for me. Four friends decided that it was time to die. Each of them do have a wonderful story to tell, but never put pen to paper. Do I do that for them? I vowed that I would never write another book, after writing The Vase with the Many Coloured Marbles. The writing is easy. The marketing a pain. But, do I allow these four truly beautiful stories to end up in the cemetery? Man oh man oh man. What a quandary.
I think a lot of your points are valid…celebrity worship confuses me. I don't have a tv and I really don't care…they seem to lead more boring lives than I do.
The GFC has left Australia relatively unscathed yet the fear has percolated into our subconscious as well. People are more careful of their money and the mood of unbridled optimism is gone. But I think it goes deeper than just fear of being laid off or not being able to pay the mortgage.I think that many of us have grown dissatisfied with the lives we are living… even when things aren't 'bad'. And I think this general malaise is at the heart of all the sensation seeking and escapism. In Roman times it might have been called hedonism. We've grown so used to having everything we need and most of what we want handed to us on a shiny plate with a barcode underneath that we've forgotten how to make ourselves happy. So we look to the people who /seem/ happy for the magic formula, except that they don't have it either.
Writing makes me happy so I really don't care what Lady Gaga or the people on Big Brother do. But I'm one of the lucky ones. Whether I get published or not, rich or not, I'm following my passion. Just exactly how much more can anyone ask of life than that?
And a tribute to lost friends is a damned good reason to write because it makes them immortal. Do it Jacob.
Jacob – if we learn one thing as authors who also read, it's that other people's stories are very important, and need to be recorded for posterity. Whether posterity will care or not is moot – the recording of what we feel is important now is vital.
Jacob, if you are asking the question I think you already know the answer. You want to do it so do it.