Nov 23 2009
Good Literature: Skill vs. Truth
In the discussion on “what makes good literature,” an issue crops up that’s unique to those who hold a set of objective standards about the world; i.e. Christians and other people who believe that a certain account of creation and morality and history is really true and not something that changes depending on your perspective.
Literature contains a whole lot of perspective, so we can look at a book that is brilliantly written and still feel that it’s “bad literature” because we believe it’s telling a pack of lies about life.
In my e-mail discussion with Annalisa I started thinking about this when she expressed frustration that there don’t seem to be black and white standards when it comes to judging literature, even though we can look at some literature and judge it as damaging to readers. I said,
I think it’s reality, though — art, including writing, can’t really be judged by purely objective standards. It’s not like truth, which is black and white. An analogy just came to my mind: when we make art, we’re imitating God when He created. Just like we can’t look around and say, “Well, that’s a good tree because it meets X and X and X standards, and that’s a bad tree because it doesn’t,” we can’t judge art that way either.
We can judge the trueness or falseness of content, because then we’re getting into the realm of truth, not just art. In writing the two often merge, which may be one reason it’s frustrating trying to define “good literature”! So you can perhaps say, “Even though X book is beautifully written, its content is full of lies and therefore it’s harmful to readers.”
What makes good literature in the world’s eyes may be the skillful handling of form and language, the treating of timeless themes, and the ability to endure. For a Christian, what makes good literature is probably the skillful handling of form and language, the treating of timeless themes, the ability to endure, and faithfulness to biblical truth.
What do you think?
I agree. A story with Biblical truth would qualify as good literature in my opinion.
Ah, but ANY story with biblical truth? What if it was abysmally written, with cardboard characters, clunky language, and plot twists that lacked any credibility? Would it still qualify as “good literature,” just because it came from a biblical worldview or worked in truth? Probably not
. Christian art, in any form, has the dual challenge of being excellent artistically AND being excellent in the area of truth.
Good point, Rachel! I’d…hehe…forgotten about that aspect of good literature for the moment.
And I agree with you again; I’ve read some Christian fiction that was clunky and cardboard, which does NOT meet my criteria for good literature. And I’ve noticed that many cardboard style Christian fiction also doesn’t present the Gospel accurately or completely.
Very true. In my opinion, art done excellently will always do a better and more lingering job of getting its truths across as well.
I think Christian fiction IS literature if it’s executed to a high standard of artistic excellence, but Christian writing that is clunky (good word – and I’ve read a number of “best sellers” that I would describe as clunky … due to inaccuracy and emotionless-ness if not, otherwise, weak writing) is NOT literature. But what about Christian fiction that IS excuted to a high standard of artistic excellence (the plot is credible and engaging, the characters are “alive” and emotionally authentic and you’ve got, got, got to read more – NOW!), but is NOT the truth? What if it twists the truth? What if it exalts the opposite of the truth? Just wondering – I’d love to know what you think!
Hmm … I just re-read your post and I’m now wondering if you’ve answered my questions in the second paragraph. If so, I apologise for repeating! *Smile!* Otherwise, I’d still love to know what you think! *Smile!*
I think we can recognize that a piece of writing is good as literature (that is, is done well as a piece of art) but bad as truth, and vice versa. The BEST art, including literature, will bring the two together.
I stumbled across this post as I googled “as Christians what makes good literature”. I love this. Especially the last paragraph. I homeschool. WE uses a Classical Co-op here in Texas. With the literature curriculum there has been a selection with several instance of cursing and taking Gods name in vain. I do not consider this to be good literature. Definitely for my 5th grader. It has brought me to the question of this: By what standard do we judge literature as good. Please know that I in no way intend to sound legalistic. My faith in Christ is not about following some list of rules. I want only to honor Him in this area.
May I use your blog article in the email I am writing tot he school/co-op?
Hi Dawn,
Thanks for your response! I’m a homeschool graduate as well, so I’m perhaps more accustomed to thinking about issues like this than some folks. Absolutely, feel free to use the post in your e-mail. Just please link back to my site
. Thanks!
will sure do that and put in quotes with your name!
Thanks, Dawn