Poets Need Not Apply
Plato did not want to admit poets, otherwise known as writers, into his Ideal Republic. Poetry, in his mind, was inferior, an imitation of a copy of an original. Not only did it serve no purpose, it confused people by appealing to the inferior portions of the soul.
Later, Aristotle argued the opposite. Well-written poetry, the fiction of Aristotle's age, provided a system of checks and balances, a controlled method for citizens to release their emotions.
Ever since, the debate has continued.
What do storytellers, writers, purveyors of tales, poets contribute to society?
Later, Aristotle argued the opposite. Well-written poetry, the fiction of Aristotle's age, provided a system of checks and balances, a controlled method for citizens to release their emotions.
Ever since, the debate has continued.
What do storytellers, writers, purveyors of tales, poets contribute to society?
posted at 1:40 AM
2 Comments:
Can you imagine society without them? The world would strangle on its own logic if there were no creative writers.
The good ones open windows into their own world, letting us have a peek at ourselves from the inside out--without them, our souls would strangle. There'd be no bridge to gap without them.
Imagine a world where the engineers reign supreme...that's a world without creative writing.
I'm a writer by trade who is currently in the process of finishing her first novel. And, as much as I love the writing, I can tell you, at times, it doesn't feel like the work of writing for entertainment only is important. It doesn't feel like I'm contributing anything to society or humanity. I'm not feeding the hungry or providing shelter for the poor. I'm not helping to provide medicine to those in need or working toward equality for all, despite race or gender, or somehow contributing to a lasting world peace. So, yeah, sometimes I do wonder, what's the point? What does it matter if I finish this novel or not? In the end, it's just a story.
Post a Comment
<< Home