What function, if any, does litature play in the modern world?

Question

All the stories ever told have already been told. The human condition is what it is. So why new litature?

All the stories are about the human condition and it never changes.

Answer 1

I interpret what your asking is, is there any originality left in literature. The answer is yes. Nothing was ever written that didn't inspire a million imitators. We remember the originals but forget the hacks and hangers-on, and when you compare the small number of originals to the large number of hacks we see in the present day (and this applies to ANY present day), it doesn't look good.

But there will always be "originals" and they will come along at the same rate they always have.

As for telling the same old story over and over again: on a fundamental level there are only a handful of themes in literature, for example boy meets girl. But the dressing on that theme is heavily dependent on the society the story is set in. A boy-girl story in 18th century England is going to be quite different than one set in 21st century California -- or 21st century Afghanistan. Sure the outcome might be the same (boy gets girl, boy doesn't get girl -- or girl gets girl!) but it almost doesn't matter because the tale is in the telling.

Answer 2

The mechanics of story-telling is not really your question. The question is the role in the modern world.

First let's draw a line between books and literature.

Books are mysteries, romance, fantasy, epics, westerns. Purely entertainment.

Literature makes a comment on today's society (the role played in the modern world). That comment can take many forms for example set in ancient times but the point made is today. Not all novels are literature but all literature are novels.

In the modern world, we now see attempts to translate that work to the silver screen. Some works like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, MASH, The World According to Garp and American Beauty are successful.

Answer 3

There are several functions of literature in the modern world. One function I've been interested in recently is the way those stories work in building identity. One purpose of a story is giving you a way in which to think about yourself. Maybe the most obvious examples of that are religious texts- Bible, Koran, Torah, etc. But still other examples inlcude nation- building texts, (look at the literature at the beginning of the founding of America- it defined national character, in what it "meant" to be American), or even gender construction texts. Boys/mens adventure for example.
Literature's function doesn't change in a modern world. it gives people ways in which to think about themselves and identify with other individuals in society. What does change, is our concept of literature. For example- under this understanding,- film and some tv, are possibilities as "literature" . Regardless of recycled stories- the current element within those stories are what do, in fact, make it new.

Answer 4

not every story has been told...there are infinite possibilities for stories...by merely changing one detail about a previous book you can have a whole new story...literature is vital!!! why have the ability to read if we're just going to waste it?!? most people don't appreciate their ability to read and don't use it often enough to actually read a book...it is usually only used for billboards, street signs, directions, and e-mails...what a waste...

more people should pick up a book and read it more often!!

Answer 5

Who said every story has already been told? New books with new stories come out everyday.

Literature. Literature.

Answer 6

i have no fucjkin idea lets go ask my friend "maths"


maths:none at all
literature:**** u
math:no **** u


me:ok that wasnt a very good idea but the point is school is evil kill it while u can

Answer 7

To retell those old stories with a new twist.... keep them fresh, so people keep reading.