tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26654079.post3138597548028761298..comments2023-05-21T14:46:54.138+01:00Comments on FictionBitch: Literature, Language and Speech in the Age of TerrorismElizabeth Baineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17193751871434773972noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26654079.post-13267535327139974872007-12-14T10:18:00.000+00:002007-12-14T10:18:00.000+00:00Thank you for asking that question, Tom: I was so ...Thank you for asking that question, Tom: I was so glad you did even though, scandalously, it wasn't taken up for debate.<BR/><BR/>I do think this posturing is at the crux of the Problem with Amis: as I say, his language makes his statements ultimately self-regarding and represents 'the West' as self regarding, which is no help to anyone.Elizabeth Baineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17193751871434773972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26654079.post-37223422569476572142007-12-14T01:41:00.000+00:002007-12-14T01:41:00.000+00:00That was indeed my question at the debate: somewha...That was indeed my question at the debate: somewhat stumblingly put, but I quite agree that for all the robust talk of its adequacy, "literature" often seemed a very small word when set next to "terrorism" that night.<BR/> <BR/>Striking poses helps no-one, and I feel badly let down by Amis. The words I need are the ones that speak loudly, clearly and startingly about what exactly it means to be living, now; not ones that speak of a blustering desire to appear adequate to politics and posterity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26654079.post-35695354510136352642007-12-05T18:21:00.000+00:002007-12-05T18:21:00.000+00:00As usual, I missed it. I really must sort out my d...As usual, I missed it. I really must sort out my diary. But I don't know that I'm that interested anymore. More interested in the way that all comment is being codified now, either to offend, or not to offend. We self censor not knowing what the "use" our words will be put to, or what the context will be. And yet literature itself is keeping quiet, saying very little. Hear its barely audible whispers.Adrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05651417997212482246noreply@blogger.com