You fell into the trap thinking that "classic" literature is a genre on which one can apply Sturgeon's epiphany "[…] that [science fiction] is indeed ninety-percent crud, but that also – Eureka! –ninety-percent of everything is crud." That is a fallacy. Classic literature, but also poetry, music, plays aren't classic because they are old, but because they are from the tenth percent. The ninety percent are already forgotten, heaps of dusty and sometimes mouldy paper in archives, where people occasionally find a gem, but usually don't. Not everything will keep its relevance, sure, but many are still works that shaped our cultures and are thus justifiable parts of the curriculum. Doesn't mean that said curriculum should consist only of them, but surprise: It isn't. Not only does only a tiny fraction of them "foisted" on students, a decent education will also pick contemporary works.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

"no books or movies pre-1960" rule You know I was sort of with you until this point, but that's not even that long ago and it does not take into account that some older media is, in fact, good.

by Anonymous 1 week ago