but the problem with readers, the idea were given of reading is that the model of a reader is the person watching a film, or watching television. so the greatest principle is, i should sit here and i should be entertained. and the more classical model, which has been completely taken away, is the idea of a reader as an amateur musician. an amateur musician who sits at the piano, has a piece of music, which is the work, made by somebody they dont know, who they probably couldnt comprehend entirely, and they have to use their skills to play this piece of music. the greater the skill, the greater the gift that you give the artist and that the artist gives you. thats the incredibly unfashionable idea of reading. and yet when you practice reading, and you work at a text, it can only give you what you put into it. its an old moral, but its completely true. zadie smith
Posted on: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 01:38:55 +0000