Thank you for this. I think Milan Kundera's words are very valuable also: “The novel has accompanied man uninterruptedly and faithfully since the beginning of the Modern Era. It was then that the "passion to know," which Husserl considered the essence of European spirituality, seized the novel and led it to scrutinize man's concrete life and protect it against "the forgetting of being"; to hold "the world of life" under a permanent light. That is the sense in which I understand and share Hermann Broch's insistence in repeating: The sole raison d'etre of a novel is to discover what only the novel can discover. A novel that does not discover a hitherto unknown segment of existence is immoral. Knowledge is the novel's only morality.”
thanks for this--although I think you may underestimate the force of the roaring emanating from those who wish to be on the correct side in conflicts (the military one and the one regarding the role of literature and art) in which they are not in fact engaged; nevertheless, your column gives me hope.
and while I have the space, thanks for your excellent commentaries on the issues surrounding specialty high schools and parental aspirations rooted in cultural traditions and presuppositions.
This reminds me of a kindle vella story I was reading based on a Russian fairytale. I was halfway through it last year when Amazon removed the title from their platform. The writer was an American, but since she tagged it with “Russian fairytale,” it was taken down. It was a great story, and I am still upset that I will probably never get to read the conclusion.
I'm working on a screenplay set in 1990s Moscow right now and this echoes so many of my own thoughts about the US and their constant relationship to painting individual Russians with a broad brush.
In addition to your good points, it's almost parody that this author thinks that the right thing to do is kowtow to the Military Industrial Complex's latest project, and avoid criticism. She may have a lot of money, but she lacks integrity.
I agree with most of this article, as I agree with most of what you write. I don't think we need to lose all nuance, but what does get lost often is WHY Ukrainians and many of their supporters feel this way. Yes, a lot of this is a trauma response and not necessarily rational. My partner is Ukrainian and I have been by her side throughout the war that started years ago, and the escalation of the war last year. Many don't understand how often the media, especially Western, tries to focus on the Russian dissidents to create heroic stories of outsider Russians, or how the talking point that this is "Putin's War" when in fact it has been independently verified that most Russians do support this invasion, the overall culture within Russian feels very rotten, and there is too much spotlight put in Russian culture when actual Ukrainian culture continues to get buried...and an enormous reason people don't know the fantastic artistic history of Ukraine is specifically due to Russian imperialism and an intentional campaign over decades (centuries!) to make Ukrainian wins look like Russian wins. Ukrainians are tired of the stories and art and conversations about Russians, a continuation of the same old erasure, and especially stories that try to hero "good Russians" when in, in fact, there has been relatively little resistance from "everyday Russians". Of course, Gilbert should publish a book if she wants to. But she also needs to be prepared for the criticism of the timing, and understand why Ukrainians would feel now is not the best time for bestselling authors to create heroic Russian resistance narratives. She can publish it. People can buy it. And Ukrainians can use the moment to draw attention to why they are upset about it. That's how freedom works. She wasn't forced to not publish, she self-censored as the article says...and that decision sits with her and not her critics.
There are plenty of problematic Russians, as there are plenty of problematic Americans. Russian culture can leave much to be desired. Americans overwhelmingly supported the war in Iraq. Does the blood now lie on the hands of 300 million people? Maybe, if that's your view. Self-censorship is a danger not far off from actual censorship. An online uprising pushed her to do this - an uprising that, in my view, is deeply misguided. I think you should be able to write a novel set in Russia in 2023 if you choose.
Sorry about the obscure reference. In the film, Cher out of sheer frustration and anger slaps Nick Cage yelling, “Snap out of it!” This is how I feel when folks go to ofar to establish their social creds.
Thank you for this. I think Milan Kundera's words are very valuable also: “The novel has accompanied man uninterruptedly and faithfully since the beginning of the Modern Era. It was then that the "passion to know," which Husserl considered the essence of European spirituality, seized the novel and led it to scrutinize man's concrete life and protect it against "the forgetting of being"; to hold "the world of life" under a permanent light. That is the sense in which I understand and share Hermann Broch's insistence in repeating: The sole raison d'etre of a novel is to discover what only the novel can discover. A novel that does not discover a hitherto unknown segment of existence is immoral. Knowledge is the novel's only morality.”
Wow, it's incredible to hear from you! I really appreciate it. And yes, I like that - the novel should exist to discover what only it can discover
Thanks! Andrew Sullivan linked to your post. That’s what brought me here. And your essay is so on the money.
thanks for this--although I think you may underestimate the force of the roaring emanating from those who wish to be on the correct side in conflicts (the military one and the one regarding the role of literature and art) in which they are not in fact engaged; nevertheless, your column gives me hope.
and while I have the space, thanks for your excellent commentaries on the issues surrounding specialty high schools and parental aspirations rooted in cultural traditions and presuppositions.
I really appreciate your nuanced and thoughtful takes on just about everything!
thank you! I appreciate that
This reminds me of a kindle vella story I was reading based on a Russian fairytale. I was halfway through it last year when Amazon removed the title from their platform. The writer was an American, but since she tagged it with “Russian fairytale,” it was taken down. It was a great story, and I am still upset that I will probably never get to read the conclusion.
The reason the Democrats are all in on empty virtue signaling is that stolen virtue will never raise their donors' taxes.
I'm working on a screenplay set in 1990s Moscow right now and this echoes so many of my own thoughts about the US and their constant relationship to painting individual Russians with a broad brush.
J K Rowling isn’t going broke anytime soon but she has taken a lot of unnecessary flak for voicing her opinions.
In addition to your good points, it's almost parody that this author thinks that the right thing to do is kowtow to the Military Industrial Complex's latest project, and avoid criticism. She may have a lot of money, but she lacks integrity.
paragraph 2 you quote her title as "East Pray Love" Please fix
The book is called Eat, Pray, Love (not East, Pray, Love).
I agree with most of this article, as I agree with most of what you write. I don't think we need to lose all nuance, but what does get lost often is WHY Ukrainians and many of their supporters feel this way. Yes, a lot of this is a trauma response and not necessarily rational. My partner is Ukrainian and I have been by her side throughout the war that started years ago, and the escalation of the war last year. Many don't understand how often the media, especially Western, tries to focus on the Russian dissidents to create heroic stories of outsider Russians, or how the talking point that this is "Putin's War" when in fact it has been independently verified that most Russians do support this invasion, the overall culture within Russian feels very rotten, and there is too much spotlight put in Russian culture when actual Ukrainian culture continues to get buried...and an enormous reason people don't know the fantastic artistic history of Ukraine is specifically due to Russian imperialism and an intentional campaign over decades (centuries!) to make Ukrainian wins look like Russian wins. Ukrainians are tired of the stories and art and conversations about Russians, a continuation of the same old erasure, and especially stories that try to hero "good Russians" when in, in fact, there has been relatively little resistance from "everyday Russians". Of course, Gilbert should publish a book if she wants to. But she also needs to be prepared for the criticism of the timing, and understand why Ukrainians would feel now is not the best time for bestselling authors to create heroic Russian resistance narratives. She can publish it. People can buy it. And Ukrainians can use the moment to draw attention to why they are upset about it. That's how freedom works. She wasn't forced to not publish, she self-censored as the article says...and that decision sits with her and not her critics.
There are plenty of problematic Russians, as there are plenty of problematic Americans. Russian culture can leave much to be desired. Americans overwhelmingly supported the war in Iraq. Does the blood now lie on the hands of 300 million people? Maybe, if that's your view. Self-censorship is a danger not far off from actual censorship. An online uprising pushed her to do this - an uprising that, in my view, is deeply misguided. I think you should be able to write a novel set in Russia in 2023 if you choose.
Wow, I was (blissfully) unaware of Gilbert’s clumsy attempt to use Ukraine to appear relevant. What nonsense. I feel like Cher in Moonstruck…
Thanks for another well written article.
I saw Moonstruck just after it came out, and I just read the Wikipedia article on it -- but I confess I don't get your Moonstruck reference ;-)
Sorry about the obscure reference. In the film, Cher out of sheer frustration and anger slaps Nick Cage yelling, “Snap out of it!” This is how I feel when folks go to ofar to establish their social creds.