Is Salinger a "minor American writer"?

[Chris Kubica]

Joyce Carol Oates called Salinger a "minor American writer" on Twitter today. Here:

https://twitter.com/JoyceCarolOates/status/378900259440586753

'Chilling to see the public ridicule/ spectacle/ debasement of J.D. Salinger. A quirkily talented minor American writer--not a crime.'

and here:

https://twitter.com/JoyceCarolOates/status/378901311439122433

'Yes, set beside Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Faulkner, Cather, Baldwin, Updike--of deceased, great writers--Salinger is certainly "minor."'

Is she right? Thoughts?

Chris

[James Rovira]

I don't think we should start a conversation about great or minor US writers without the context of this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpeLSMKNFO4

But, my thoughts --

I can see why she would say he's a minor American writer. In terms of clear contributions to the US literary canon, there's just one novel.

But, in terms of widespread cultural impact, that one novel is probably equal to any one of Hemingway or Faulkner's novels and more significant than anything by Cather or Baldwin and maybe even Updike.

Jim R

Chris

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Dr. James Rovira

Associate Professor of English

Tiffin University

http://www.jamesrovira.com

Blake and Kierkegaard: Creation and Anxiety

Continuum 2010

http://jamesrovira.com/blake-and-kierkegaard-creation-and-anxiety/

Text, Identity, Subjectivity

http://scalar.usc.edu/works/text-identity-subjectivity/index

[Chris Kubica]

I suppose there are different rulers to judge minor or major.

1. Artistry

2. Financial success

3. Cultural influence

4. Quantity of writing

5. Amount talk in schools

6. Amount banned in schools

7. Etc.

8. Some combination of the above

I suppose this is why there are so many Top 100 Books lists that rank writers (arbitrarily/subjectively) in various ways.

Some of the rulers are quantitative, some qualitative. CATCHER would be at the top of some of the quantitative lists, but so would FIFTY SHADES OF GRAY.

So, I mean. I think Salinger is both minor AND major, depending on your point of view, etc.

P.S. Great scene from Dead Poets. :)

-- 

Chris Kubica

[Beth Kienle-Granzo]

I appreciate the irony of her being "chilled" by the "debasement" of Salinger, while declaring him "minor." 

I agree with Chris completely.  I just think that his work, in terms of influence and social impact alone - regardless of both sales and volume - makes Salinger more than minor.  I hope the to-be-published work proves this further; however, I'm terrified it'll do the opposite.  I'm not sure how I'd measure him against others in her list (that would take more thought and reading), but I don't think there needs to be a 6-person limit on major American writers (living/deceased).  

PS.  LOVE Dead Poets....

[Michael Anello]

When some things become major, other things become minor.  There are favorites, and there are non-favorites.  Based on opinions.

[James Rovira]

Among literati like Joyce Carol Oates, the primary criteria for a "major author" would be "influence on future generations of writers" and "extent to which the work is seen to define the period by later readers." Other measures like quality of writing are taken into account too. So Austen's Pride and Prejudice didn't sell much while she was alive (did get some notice), but it's never been out of print, and it's hard to imagine either women's literature or the novel without it. 50 Shades has probably sold more copies, but odds are no one will care much about those books 25 years from now, even within the narrower world of erotic fiction. The Story of O is probably more important within the world of erotic literature and will probably still be 25 years from now.

Jim R 

[Michael M. Elling]

Because Salinger’s work had an impact on me as a teen, he will always be major in my life.  My father who weathered the Great Depression in canaries, fruit picking, and gold mining in California, it was John Steinbeck.  I am sure that it was the writer who spoke to you most that was major in your life.  --MichaelEinTennessee

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Dr. James Rovira

Associate Professor of English

Tiffin University

http://www.jamesrovira.com

Blake and Kierkegaard: Creation and Anxiety

Continuum 2010

http://jamesrovira.com/blake-and-kierkegaard-creation-and-anxiety/

Text, Identity, Subjectivity

http://scalar.usc.edu/works/text-identity-subjectivity/index

 

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Dr. James Rovira

Associate Professor of English

Tiffin University

http://www.jamesrovira.com

Blake and Kierkegaard: Creation and Anxiety

Continuum 2010

http://jamesrovira.com/blake-and-kierkegaard-creation-and-anxiety/

Text, Identity, Subjectivity

http://scalar.usc.edu/works/text-identity-subjectivity/index

[Michael M. Elling]

 

 

 

 

Because Salinger’s work had an impact on me as a teen, he will always be major in my life.  My father who weathered the Great Depression in canNEries, fruit picking, and gold mining in California, it was John Steinbeck.  I am sure that it was the writer who spoke to you most that was major in your life.  --MichaelEinTennessee