Fantastic use of example, Henry. Do you think that the truth of prose (or any form) is somehow inextricable from is form and beauty? That "beauty is truth, truth beauty"?
Of course the plain style can contain immense beauty, but perhaps American minimalism has gone too far... So much of what I read now, particularly online, elevates clarity and argument and eschews any ornamentation.
Uhhhh not sure I so think that—those relationships seem very variable and complicated to me. You can use any form for good or bad or ugly or whatever. Glad you enjoyed it—thanks! I think I’d distinguish plain from minimal and might be writing more about that…
'...There is some clever writing here—verbing the word storm...' Also verbing the word 'verb'. Ha.
Very enjoyable post. I liked the image of the 'huge cage of rococo cockatoos' for Joyce's ornate style. Made me laugh. By comparison, Hemingway's prose is perhaps a brown bird perched on the handle of a shovel.
I remember reading a conversation between two scholars and Fredric Jameson in a book titled “Jameson on Jameson,” and thought to myself, after spending almost 15 minutes thinking about what he’s trying to say in a paragraph, that there is no way he can achieve the same precision he achieves, after I comprehended the passage, with simple, direct style. Also, reading Stanley Fish, who is perhaps the most direct and best critic-stylist of his generation, in some instances, sounding simple and direct, I feel, make his points and arguments seem less forceful. Knowing when to use either and when integrate both, as you said, is best.
I've always loved that passage from Ulysses. If I compare it to a lot of the book, I think of it as plain language with the art of it in the rapid logical steps of thought, similar to the first chapter when Stephen's sight of the sea leads him to remember his mother dying.
I'm learning stuff again. Perfect examples.
:) more coming
👍🏻
Fantastic use of example, Henry. Do you think that the truth of prose (or any form) is somehow inextricable from is form and beauty? That "beauty is truth, truth beauty"?
Of course the plain style can contain immense beauty, but perhaps American minimalism has gone too far... So much of what I read now, particularly online, elevates clarity and argument and eschews any ornamentation.
Uhhhh not sure I so think that—those relationships seem very variable and complicated to me. You can use any form for good or bad or ugly or whatever. Glad you enjoyed it—thanks! I think I’d distinguish plain from minimal and might be writing more about that…
'...There is some clever writing here—verbing the word storm...' Also verbing the word 'verb'. Ha.
Very enjoyable post. I liked the image of the 'huge cage of rococo cockatoos' for Joyce's ornate style. Made me laugh. By comparison, Hemingway's prose is perhaps a brown bird perched on the handle of a shovel.
That’s the image I wish I’d thought of for Hemingway!
I remember reading a conversation between two scholars and Fredric Jameson in a book titled “Jameson on Jameson,” and thought to myself, after spending almost 15 minutes thinking about what he’s trying to say in a paragraph, that there is no way he can achieve the same precision he achieves, after I comprehended the passage, with simple, direct style. Also, reading Stanley Fish, who is perhaps the most direct and best critic-stylist of his generation, in some instances, sounding simple and direct, I feel, make his points and arguments seem less forceful. Knowing when to use either and when integrate both, as you said, is best.
Thank you for this. I really enjoy reading it.
Interesting examples!
I've always loved that passage from Ulysses. If I compare it to a lot of the book, I think of it as plain language with the art of it in the rapid logical steps of thought, similar to the first chapter when Stephen's sight of the sea leads him to remember his mother dying.
Yes Joyce is good at treading the plain ornate boundary