back again fulfilling my innate urges for literary discussion. This time it's The World According to Garp by John Irving. A well-known novel, (at least to many of the older people I mention it to...) with some interesting ideas about love, lust, death, fear, yada yada universal theme this and that... But I picked out the following passage because I'm not sure how I feel about Garp's (the main character) thesis. I know that Abenicio! disagrees. At least, I'm pretty sure he does.

" "Art doesn't help anyone," Garp said. "People can't really use it: they can't eat it, it won't shelter or clothe them - and if they're sick, it won't make them well." This, Helen knew, was Garp's thesis on the basic uselessness of art; he rejected the idea that art was of any social value whatsoever - that it could be, that it should be. The two things mustn't be confused, he thought: there was art, and there was helping people ... But, true to his thesis, he saw art and social responsibility as two distinct acts."
- The World According to Garp, John Irving.

I don't believe they have to be...

posted by MAtt D. at 9:45 AM