I'm taking an American Lit class and it's been really fascinating to see all the steps that led us to where we are. You know, as a Christian writer. Unfortunately, I was never able to figure out what made classics classic, so maybe y'all classically educated dudes can enlighten me.
Honestly, I have no clue 😂 I feel like the whole classic-book thing is a bit of a scam. The only qualifications that seem to be in existence (for the world at least) is that it's A) old, and B) has some strong Leftist theme. Obviouslyy Christian classics are better, but I'm still not sure what makes them "classics".
Lewis and Tolkien were evidently very blessed and very talented. And I think they have something that we lost......we've lost the ability to properly create stories filled with dragons and knights and ladies and honor and courage and death and glory. Our generation has become so petty and modern, we've lost what Christianity filled the West with for the past 1000 years. Lewis could write powerfully about warriors willing to die for honor, because in his time there were still remnants of men willing to die for honor. Tolkien could write about hopeless battles and glorious final charges, because in his time there were still Faramirs around......men willing to ride back into Osgiliath and into the arms of certain death to slow the inevitable fate of Sauron reaching Minas Tirith. Those things are all over.
The luxury, technology, and comfort of the modern world has ruined that. Now, it's rare to find a man who will open a door for a lady, let alone one who would give his life for a just cause. Someone will mug a defenseless citizen in broad daylight and everyone sits there recording it with their phones. Our culture has created people who are soft and weak. They have no grand ideas of glory and honor and great deeds. They can barely hold down a job at McDonald's.
So it's no surprise that we're unable to make something akin to the level of mastery that Lewis and Tolkien achieved.
Hard times make hard men. Hard men make good times. Good times make soft men. Soft men make hard times. And the cycle will continue to repeat itself until the return of our Lord.
My hypothesis is that we're taking Christian themes for granted. We haven't realized until recently that materialism (ie paganism) inevitably leads to weakness, death, and insanity. Beauty, freedom, and courage are Christian ideas. Modern fantasy can't even define good and evil. And so getting back to the 'basics' and describing reality like it really is will resonate.
I'm guessing a 'classic' is just something that does a particularly good job at it and uses a bunch of symbolism.
A well put assessment.
Not sure what to think of the "do whatever you want" part.
Rejection of reason. Ouch.
I'm taking an American Lit class and it's been really fascinating to see all the steps that led us to where we are. You know, as a Christian writer. Unfortunately, I was never able to figure out what made classics classic, so maybe y'all classically educated dudes can enlighten me.
Honestly, I have no clue 😂 I feel like the whole classic-book thing is a bit of a scam. The only qualifications that seem to be in existence (for the world at least) is that it's A) old, and B) has some strong Leftist theme. Obviouslyy Christian classics are better, but I'm still not sure what makes them "classics".
Ok, how about this: what made Narnia and LOTR good that Christians have apparently not been able to replicate for 75 years?
Lewis and Tolkien were evidently very blessed and very talented. And I think they have something that we lost......we've lost the ability to properly create stories filled with dragons and knights and ladies and honor and courage and death and glory. Our generation has become so petty and modern, we've lost what Christianity filled the West with for the past 1000 years. Lewis could write powerfully about warriors willing to die for honor, because in his time there were still remnants of men willing to die for honor. Tolkien could write about hopeless battles and glorious final charges, because in his time there were still Faramirs around......men willing to ride back into Osgiliath and into the arms of certain death to slow the inevitable fate of Sauron reaching Minas Tirith. Those things are all over.
The luxury, technology, and comfort of the modern world has ruined that. Now, it's rare to find a man who will open a door for a lady, let alone one who would give his life for a just cause. Someone will mug a defenseless citizen in broad daylight and everyone sits there recording it with their phones. Our culture has created people who are soft and weak. They have no grand ideas of glory and honor and great deeds. They can barely hold down a job at McDonald's.
So it's no surprise that we're unable to make something akin to the level of mastery that Lewis and Tolkien achieved.
Hard times make hard men. Hard men make good times. Good times make soft men. Soft men make hard times. And the cycle will continue to repeat itself until the return of our Lord.
😵💫 You should just make that an entire post.
My hypothesis is that we're taking Christian themes for granted. We haven't realized until recently that materialism (ie paganism) inevitably leads to weakness, death, and insanity. Beauty, freedom, and courage are Christian ideas. Modern fantasy can't even define good and evil. And so getting back to the 'basics' and describing reality like it really is will resonate.
I'm guessing a 'classic' is just something that does a particularly good job at it and uses a bunch of symbolism.
Amen bro, powerful words. I agree wholeheartedly. We as a culture need to turn to Christ, though I know we won't. Sadly sin blinds
Amen.
Agreed 100%.