Terrorists have seized control of the world narrative..
- Where were you when DeLillo was right, again, for the 100th time??
>>7352305
In a repressive society, a writer can be deeply influential, but in a society that's filled with glut and repetition and endless consumption, the act of terror may be the only meaningful act.
>People who are powerless make an open theater of violence.
>Years ago I used to think it was possible for a novelist to alter the inner life of the culture. Now bomb-makers and gunman have taken that territory. They make raids on human consciousness. What writers used to do before we were all incorporated.
>>7352311
In an age of endless consumption, genuine production, not destruction, is the only meaningful act.
>>7352358
really? we live in a post 9-11 world, not a post 'In search of lost time' world
>>7352311
this is what /lit/ actually believes, this is why we in the sciences laugh the pretentious adolescents in the humanities
>>7352770
> we
>>7352305
>>7352311
>>7352318
>>7352344
>>7352358
Only someone who grew up completely sheltered would find this idea interesting.
Of course violence is the most "meaningful" act. Terrorism is a form of warfare. This is like saying, "today, war is more influential than the novel." Wow, what a world-turned-upside-down.
>>7352799
It isn't though. Ideas are more immortal while people are not. :)
>>7352801
Ideas subsist on societies built, shaped, and sustained by violence. If someone has an idea to change things, he is stopped not by other ideas but by violence.
>>7352801
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE-OMF-O27c
>>7352801
Napolean had a far larger and more lasting impact on political and cultural climate than Goethe, than Gauß, than Humboldt, than Beethoven, who were all his contemporaries.
DeLillo is a mystic, some sort of seer, and 75 to 100 years from now he'll be considered not just a great writer of the period but one of American literature's most fascinating figures.
Times like these I wish Hitch was still alive
>>7353527
How would you in any way prove or sustain that? It seems like an optimist would say just the opposite.
>>7352305
Is that quote or that pic from a lecture?
Link?
>>7352305
Terrorists have seized control of the world narrative. Are you a bad enough dude to rescue the world narrative?
>>7353527
>Napolean had a far larger and more lasting impact on political and cultural climate
Now explain how and why Napoleon got into power. No philosophy, No Napoleon.
DeLillo is not Bill Gray...he's said in interviews he doesn't agree with Gray's thesis that "terrorists are the new artists" or whatever.
>>7352305
>new book coming next year
>Cryopreservation
Based DeliLLo
>>7352770
Here's your (you)
>>7353730
>the revolution
>not an orgy of murder and fear
>just the strength of an idea
sure m8
which is not to say all violent acts are as influential as others. napoleon is not the best example of that. nor is it to say that there are not certain ideas at certain times that can become immeasurably powerful. but those are exceptions. on the whole it is just undeniable that violence is the animator of history. violence is what gives body and weight to the ideas behind them. not to mention how those very ideas are often twisted by the violence perpetrated in their name. obviously this isn't an argument in favor of violence. you just have to be realistic.
