“All literature, highbrow or low, from the Aeneid onward, is fan fiction....Through parody and pastiche, allusion and homage, retelling and reimagining the stories that were told before us and that we have come of age loving--amateurs--we proceed, seeking out the blank places in the map that our favorite writers, in their greatness and negligence, have left for us, hoping to pass on to our own readers--should we be lucky enough to find any--some of the pleasure that we ourselves have taken in the stuff that we love: to get in on the game. All novels are sequels; influence is bliss.”
Explore This Quote Further
Quote Analysis
In this quote by Michael Chabon, the author asserts that all literature can be seen as a form of fan fiction. Chabon argues that every piece of writing, whether considered highbrow or low, can be traced back to existing narratives and serves as a continuation or reinterpretation of those stories. By drawing on elements such as parody, allusion, and homage, authors add their own perspective to the framework created by their predecessors. Chabon suggests that the act of storytelling is a collective endeavor, with each writer building on the work of those who came before them. In this way, literature is portrayed as an ongoing conversation between authors across time and space, each contributing to a rich tapestry of interconnected narratives.
The Modern Relevance of Literature as Fan Fiction
In this quote from Michael Chabon, the idea of literature as fan fiction is explored, highlighting how all stories are interconnected and influenced by those that came before. By recognizing the importance of parody, pastiche, and homage in literature, Chabon emphasizes the continuous nature of storytelling and the endless possibilities for reinterpretation and reimagining. This concept of literature as a collaborative and evolving art form remains relevant in today's world, where readers and writers continue to engage with and build upon the works of the past.
Example of Usage:
In his essay “All literature, highbrow or low, from the Aeneid onward, is fan fiction…” Michael Chabon highlights the idea that all literature is influenced and inspired by the stories that came before it. Chabon emphasizes the concept of literature being a continuous dialogue between authors, readers, and the stories themselves.
Reflection Questions:
As Michael Chabon suggests, all literature can be seen as a form of fan fiction, with authors building upon the works that came before them. This idea raises important questions about creativity, inspiration, and the nature of storytelling. Consider the following reflection questions:
- How does the concept of literature as fan fiction change your perspective on the books you have read or written?
- In what ways have you seen authors pay homage to or reimagine stories that have influenced them?
- What do you think Chabon means when he says "influence is bliss"? How does influence shape the creative process?
- How can understanding literature as a form of fan fiction impact the way we approach writing and reading?
- Reflect on a book or story that you love. Can you identify elements of parody, pastiche, or allusion within it? How does this enhance your appreciation of the work?
Similar quotes
“All novels are sequels; influence is bliss.”
“Yet entertainment--as I define it, pleasure and all--remains the only sure means we have of bridging, or at least of feeling as if we have bridged, the gulf of consciousness that separates each of us from everybody else. The best response to those who would cheapen and exploit it is not to disparage or repudiate but to reclaim entertainment as a job fit for artists and for audiences, a two-way exchange of attention, experience, and the universal hunger for connection.”
“It really is a shame that through our sad neglect of wonders, hopefulness, and trust we allowed so much clutter and debris to build up in the space that once connected us to Diamond Green.”
“We are accustomed to repeating the cliché, and to believing, that 'our most precious resource is our children.' But we have plenty of children to go around, God knows, and as with Doritos, we can always make more. The true scarcity we face is practicing adults, of people who know how marginal, how fragile, how finite their lives and their stories and their ambitions really are but who find value in this knowledge, even a sense of strange comfort, because they know their condition is universal, is shared.”
“We have the idea that our hearts, once broken, scar over with an indestructible tissue that prevents their ever breaking again in quite the same place...”
“We figure he must have let him out. The perpetrator, I mean. He's blind and we figure he just wandered off and maybe got run over.""The perpetrator.""No, the dog.”