I completely agree with you on the Oyler situation! I loved her earlier reviews especially the takedown of Tolentino, which was so much needed in the culture. I read Oyler semi-religiously for a long while until I started to realise she was never going to actually give us anything about her self, she was never going to really feel something that mattered to her in front of us, not even a little bit. I then grew tired of this ongoing pretension to meaning without emotional substance and am no longer her fan, and was waiting for someone to call her out in her turn. So I was pleased when we all turned against her, to be honest. We do not need any more of what she does, at present, in the culture.
Yes, that exactly it—the only method is the self, as Bloom said. But that means reviewing and criticising not just bemoaning standards. It really sets her apart from someone like Merve Emre, who is actually a great critic. The funny thing is, Oyler wrote the book because she was sick of modern literary reviewing too. No money in “real” criticism I suppose.
I completely agree with you on the Oyler situation! I loved her earlier reviews especially the takedown of Tolentino, which was so much needed in the culture. I read Oyler semi-religiously for a long while until I started to realise she was never going to actually give us anything about her self, she was never going to really feel something that mattered to her in front of us, not even a little bit. I then grew tired of this ongoing pretension to meaning without emotional substance and am no longer her fan, and was waiting for someone to call her out in her turn. So I was pleased when we all turned against her, to be honest. We do not need any more of what she does, at present, in the culture.
Yes, that exactly it—the only method is the self, as Bloom said. But that means reviewing and criticising not just bemoaning standards. It really sets her apart from someone like Merve Emre, who is actually a great critic. The funny thing is, Oyler wrote the book because she was sick of modern literary reviewing too. No money in “real” criticism I suppose.
Oh, I loved that clip about pronunciation of Shakespeare. So fascinating!
Amazing right!