Should Reader Response Dictate Quality?

    On Tuesday, we discussed the presence of Beloved in the Cannon. This topic was the one I wrote about in my in-class writing. The more I think about the Cannon is the more I think it should be changed. After all, why was Beloved placed in high regards? It is not the first book to talk about slavery, nor is it the first book written by a woman, or a African American person. While it seems the book could have been in the right place at the right political and social time, there are many more factors to be considered. I believe readers' response is very important here. The literature that should be good to the masses (reader) is the literature that can be relatable in some terms of human existence.

       Literature provides works that allow the reader to openly connect with different ideas that can provide direction based on individuals’ needs. The reader’s ability to learn about their needs through literature creates an unlimited amount of materials to be used. This ability to connect current human problems with literature that can express the needs of the reader is what makes literature good in quality. In 12 years a slave, many viewers cannot relate on what it is like to experience slavery, however, all have experienced freedom. The viewer can relate to the possibility of loosing their freedom at any moment, even thought the latter is not subject to their current condition. 

        Although literature sounds very free form in modern day description, it was this free form that inspired those in the academic world to create a narrower concept. Philosophers and literary critics have long tried to describe the essential characteristics of these works and to distinguish them from those of other genres of oral and written communication. These distinguishing terms are what created various guidelines and rules that academics have associated with “good” literature for hundreds of years.  These guidelines and rules tend to glorify books that can be found in academic lists such as The Literary Cannon, while labeling other books that fall short to be “bad” literature. However, Literature cannot fall short of providing experience. It is through the relatable aspects of a book create the depth to the reader, not the academic guidelines by which they are viewed.  Which makes the readers' response to the literature capable of holding the most value. 

      With technology that can produce and distribute books and writings very fast and very far, it becomes harder to keep restraints on a small amount of books that can be glorified when there are hundreds with good quality to be read. The modern-day condition allows for mass discussions on Beloved to be made. Which is why, as discussed in class, Beloved could be brought up for Pulitzer award and 1988 and the American Book award in 1988. The book's presence was neglected in 1997, and the masses were able to speak on how the felt about the book, which lead to the high regards of the next year. If reader response was not able to be so quickly received in the current era, there is a chance this book, like many others would have went unnoticed. The reader response, and the communication the readers can give so quickly, is what is helping change this view of what literature is good and what is Cannon worthy.