Recently there seems to be a lot of TikTok and just social media in general where it seems people are reading not for the sake of it but rather to share or follow trends, especially with classics (Dostoevsky, Orwell…etc). While I certainly think that it is good that books are being promoted, I also feel this kind of deprives reading classics of what it originally was and a lot of people are skimming through them without actually understanding the underlying themes of which are, in most cases, more important than the actual plot in this genre.
Some of these books are just not meant to be read hastily for a 52 books challenge, such as James Joyce who wrote "The demand that I make of my reader is that he should devote his whole life to reading my works." He probably would rather not be in a 52 books list for some influencer to read and brag about.
While I think it is problematic that classics are becoming a TikTok trend, I will make it clear that I am not criticising the promotion of reading in general online. I think its great that more people are starting to read because of the influence of social media.
What do you guys think? Is social media stripping classics of their original intent or am I just being overly critical here.
by butt_pipette
1 Comment
I have my own issues with Tiktok and books (romanticising porn and even really fucked up porn, rampant overconsumption of constant haul-unhaul), I am not worried about the classics.
Look. Classics were not written to BE classics. The authors wrote what they wanted, for better or worse and some became classics. Nobody seriously just sits down to write a classic.
Sure, you may feel like certain books are absolute classics with current day eyes, but back in their time those were the new releases and books written for fun. The different times make it so the Victorian books are not just for fun because they take more of an effort from you, but that doesn’t change the fact that those were the best sellers and the “I tell my friend she needs to pick it up, OMG”.
About the x books in a year challenges. We all work differently. Look, I am a very lazy person who needs to make an effort to keep up a habit, even one I know is good for me.
Challenges and logs and keeping up streaks help me. I’m not racing anyone, I am not flexing on anyone, but I know myself.
> “The demand that I make of my reader is that he should devote his whole life to reading my works.”
Joyce or not, a lot of people disagree with that attitude. You obviously respect him a lot, but that doesn’t make him The Law.