class 1 lhs

The Concept of Signifier and Signified

  • Discusses how names and labels affect perception of objects and ideas.

    • Treating things based on their names can lead to prejudice.

    • Concern about branding, as people often judge without experience.

  • This principle has applications beyond literature, notably in consumer culture.

    • Example: Stephen King's name on movie posters attracts viewers due to brand familiarity.

Modern Consumerism and Author Branding

  • The relationship between a brand name and its drawing power.

    • Even if unfamiliar with a specific work, viewers may be drawn to adaptations because of the writer's reputation.

  • Authors like J.K. Rowling and Neil Gaiman create complex feelings regarding their works due to their personal controversies.

Ghostwriting and Authenticity

  • Questions around the authenticity of works by prominent authors who use ghostwriters.

    • Discourse on discovering an author employs a ghostwriter may alter a reader's view of the works.

  • How transparency influences the reader’s connection to the text.

    • The rise of the internet has made it harder to maintain certain secrets in publishing.

The Role of AI in Writing

  • The concept of creativity being intrinsically human.

    • Concerns arise about AI’s lack of genuine human experience in creating written works.

  • AI-generated text is seen as lacking emotional depth and flawed complexity present in human-created content.

    • Readers may value imperfection, personal experiences, and human mistakes akin to authenticity.

Creativity and Originality

  • The ongoing debate on originality in writing from a human-created perspective versus machine-generated text.

    • Writers often expect a personal touch in the works they engage with.

  • AI works may feel "clean" or "robotic," lacking the emotional resonance and human connection.

The Unwritten Rules of AI Use in Art

  • The ethical implications of how AI can and should be employed in creative processes.

    • There are cultural sensitivities surrounding the manipulation of creativity by automated systems.

  • The notion of an "instinct" about what feels acceptable or unacceptable in using AI in arts and literature.

Influences on Writing

  • Literary influence is expansive and relates to all life experiences, including familial relationships.

  • The idea that life experiences significantly shape a writer's output rather than just literary texts.

  • Acknowledgment of children's influences on a writer’s creativity and subject matter.

Constraints of Writing as a Parent

  • A writer's ability to produce works may be limited by domestic responsibilities.

  • Emphasizes the reality many authors face where juggling professions and familial roles restrict time for writing.

The Contemporary Author's Image

  • A critique of the traditional perception of authors as luminaries, highlighting the struggle of modern writers.

  • The shift in viewing influences more tangibly—recognizing the life and constraints faced as shaping factors.

The Definition of Influence in Writing

  • Distinction between abstract influences (like famous authors) versus tangible forces (like children or life situations).

  • Critique of the notion that literary value is solely derived from an author's genius, positing that it arises from personal and life influences.