Comments on: Writing in the World

By: Kyhl

Kyhl — Thu, 13 May 2010 05:26:51 +0000

I loved your article, it kind of makes the same point I made in my senior seminar paper (I know it’s late notice, but I can send it you you if you want…). I couldn’t agree more that the Christian label ‘limits’ the influence of an author. I think Anne Rice could still be a powerful example. Granted her writing will not be able to be discussed in the same light as before, but it can prove your point to the limitation of Christian labels.

My mother is in town for graduation, and she loves books. I took her to open books today where we happened upon an Anne Rice novel about Jesus (I think it was called Jesus Christ of Nazareth: Out of Egypt); and my mother proclaimed I would never read that…it’s weird and her old stuff was better.

Maybe my mom is just a little crazy, but her thoughts could help.

Link out too, it will help with the presentation/articulation of your research.

Excellent Paper!

By: Zachary

Zachary — Thu, 13 May 2010 04:07:43 +0000

First off I would like to say that I agree that most Christian fiction is very bad in most cases. I can hardly read through one Christian book without putting it down to read something different, but that doesn’t say much because I read like 8 books at a time because i can’t concentrate very well on one book at a time. A few questions I have is the idea of correlation and causation. Is the cause of the bad writing in Christian Fiction the publishers fault or is it because the writers are just bad or is it because the stories are bad? Is there one distinct reason? You seem to claim that without the limitations of the Christian publishers the Christians writers would flourish, but the big mean publishers ruin it all. Also, is it possible that the writers want to write those things? Also, doesn’t every publisher force their authors into some mold ultimately? Depending on what type of books they write? Should their never be a person saying which writing should go out under a publisher? There are different publishing houses for a reason, they each serve different authors that write different content. If these writers are so great and want to spread their wings why wouldn’t they just write something different?
Very good info though! I would like some more examples of publishers controlling their writers and maybe some more examples of what you think is the answer. What kind of books are you looking for other than the older examples of LOTR and Chronicles?

By: Colton

Colton — Thu, 13 May 2010 01:23:26 +0000

You did a really good job of building your case throughout the paper, and I like the examples you used but would also love to see more examples. It’s hard to argue with Lord of the Rings and Chronicles of Narnia!
I think it would be helpful to consider who your audience is for this paper, especially when using the term “Christian sub-culture.” I know exactly what you are talking about, but I wonder if someone who has not been in our class would understand that phrase. I think that maybe further defining it (since it is the problem you are addressing) might be helpful.
I also agree with Jake’s point that maybe the Christian publisher’s ought to broaden their scope – but that has potential to lose Christian readers as well as non-Christians. Way to get us thinking about this!

By: Bailey

Bailey — Thu, 13 May 2010 00:13:07 +0000

Really good points. Really strong support and sources. There was a lot of “here’s the problem” and not so much of “here’s the solution,” but trust me when I say I know how hard it is to identify a good solution to this issue. This essay provided a very good analysis of this issue facing our culture that desperately needs to be addressed.

By: Faith

Faith — Wed, 12 May 2010 19:44:48 +0000

Great essay. You provided concrete examples to support your claims, and you fairly evaluated the intended audience and purpose of Christian literature which has already hit the shelves. This certainly a controversial issue; our classmates have already posted comments questioning your conclusion. And that’s okay. This class has allowed us to better research and articulate our perspectives on such gray areas, and we are now prepared to dialogue with those (believers and nonbelievers alike) who are skeptical of Christian media. You should link out to Bailey’s essay (if you haven’t already); your perspectives compliment each other well.

By: Samantha

Samantha — Tue, 11 May 2010 18:02:45 +0000

Marija, unfortunately I was not able to hear you explain your paper in class but I am so glad I got the opportunity to read it. Towards the beginning of your paper my eyebrows began to raise when you said that attaching a Christian label to a form of medium is limiting. At the beginning of the semester I wrote my cultural views essay on whether or not Lifeway Christian bookstore should sell Korn music or not. I think that often the people in charge of the Christian businesses find security in seeing a Christian label and are able to be more confident in knowing what lies behind the message in the specific medium being used. I agree that non believers are being pushed away because of the Christian label but aren’t we called to be different than the world. For example, when you walk into a Nike shoe store, you expect their to be Nike shoes. Just like when you walk into a Christian bookstore, you expect their to be Christian books. I guess my challenge and question to you would be whether you would find it more beneficial not to change the labels of individual items but to change the overall label on media that we see as Christian; maybe this would be more beneficial in reaching out. Should there even be such a thing as “Christian” labeled books?

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 11 May 2010 17:47:54 +0000

Solid job making a case for Christians intentionally seeking to write for and be published by “secular” publishers. Jake made a good point, and a stance on that would add to your analysis – reform a separate Christian publishing industry, or use/transform the existing systems to advance the Kingdom?

By: Haley

Haley — Tue, 11 May 2010 07:05:23 +0000

You did a good job at presenting tangible evidence as to why Christians should not write under the “Christian” label. Jake brought up an interesting point in his comment. While it would be ideal that Christian publishing became the standard, I think this would further perpetuate the isolated subculture you allude to in your paper. As you explained,”It is not likely that non-believers will pick up a Christian book when it is displayed under the Christian label.” This is the reason why authors who are Christians should actively seek out “secular” publishing. It is not just the unrealistic books that are published under the Christian label that is the problem, it is the label itself that is a hindrance. The Christian subculture is a common theme among many of the class papesr. Nice job, Marija. You have some good points.

By: Jake

Jake — Sat, 08 May 2010 20:01:27 +0000

I think you make some interesting points in your essay. It seems that you’re saying that because Christian publishing companies put their writers in a box, then they should be abandoned and writers should seek venues that are open to their specific subject matter. I agree that Christians should not neglect the “secular” writing arena, but I don’t think that should be done simply because they feel restricted by Christian labels. Unless critically-thinking Christians choose to engage, challenge, and change the standards and expectations of the writing world within Christianity, then Christian publishers will continue to produce the same shallow, idealistic literature they always have. I think by simply moving towards secular companies because of this stands to enforce the thought that it’s only secular publishers that are capable of producing excellent works of literature. Rather, shouldn’t we look to fix the problem rather than run from it? Why not strive towards Christian publishers being the standard of excellence and producers of complex, realistic, well-written literature?