Comments on: On Moralizing and Morality in Fiction https://thecomicmuse.com/the-craft-of-fiction/on-moralizing-and-morality-in-fiction/ Revels in the Craft of Storytelling Tue, 25 Nov 2014 02:28:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.3 By: Ib https://thecomicmuse.com/the-craft-of-fiction/on-moralizing-and-morality-in-fiction/#comment-3396 Mon, 21 Jul 2014 00:41:13 +0000 https://thecomicmuse.com/?p=2158#comment-3396 Sorry it has taken so long to get back to this. Maybe you won’t even read this old thread. How do you see Gardner’s work fitting in with your own approach? E.g., a quote from _On Moral Fiction_:

“Didacticism and true art are inmiscible; and in any case nothing guarantees that didacticism will be moral. … True art is moral. We recognize true art by its’ careful, thoroughly honest search for an analysis of values. It is not didactic because, instead of teaching by authority and force, it explores, open-mindedly, to learn what it should teach. It clarifies like an experiment in a chemistry lab, and confirms. As a chemist’s experiment tests the laws of nature and dramatically reveals the truth or falsity of scientific hypotheses, moral art tests values and rouses trustworthy feelings about the better and the worse in human action.”

]]> By: Daniel McInerny https://thecomicmuse.com/the-craft-of-fiction/on-moralizing-and-morality-in-fiction/#comment-3025 Sun, 29 Jun 2014 21:06:27 +0000 https://thecomicmuse.com/?p=2158#comment-3025 Thanks for the encouraging word, Rob. I’m glad you’ve found the blog and I hope you’ll return often. I look forward to checking out your own blog. ]]> By: Rob https://thecomicmuse.com/the-craft-of-fiction/on-moralizing-and-morality-in-fiction/#comment-3024 Sun, 29 Jun 2014 20:29:17 +0000 https://thecomicmuse.com/?p=2158#comment-3024 Didacticism is a big problem in fiction for children and young adults as well. But, of course, you know that.

I read your piece “The Fault in Our Stories” at The Catholic Thing. Excellent article and much needed. We need to be telling our children (and ourselves!) better stories.

I look forward to reading more of your posts. Keep up the good work! God bless.

]]> By: Daniel McInerny https://thecomicmuse.com/the-craft-of-fiction/on-moralizing-and-morality-in-fiction/#comment-3018 Sat, 28 Jun 2014 22:57:34 +0000 https://thecomicmuse.com/?p=2158#comment-3018 It was not an intentional omission: I have Gardner’s book right here on my shelf. It’s just that as I was writing the post McKee’s remarks on didacticism leapt to mind. Thanks for the suggestion that I return to Gardner’s book. Any particular thoughts from him that you think I should bring into this discussion? ]]> By: Ib https://thecomicmuse.com/the-craft-of-fiction/on-moralizing-and-morality-in-fiction/#comment-3016 Sat, 28 Jun 2014 20:41:09 +0000 https://thecomicmuse.com/?p=2158#comment-3016 You of course, are probably well aware of John Gardner’s _On Moral Fiction_. It’s probably the most famous writing on morals and fiction in the past 30 years. Why didn’t you mention it? Seems a strange omission, even if you might disagree with its content … ]]>