Quote:
Originally Posted by anamardoll
But it still means that all this "classics have objective value and are determined by strict, unassailable criteria" is so much white noise, in my opinion.
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Fair points on your whole post!
I specifically agree with your statement quoted above. There are no unassailable criteria, and my own definition "accepted by multiple generations as worthwhile" is subject to plenty of debate.
I reject the appeal to authority as a defining factor for choosing classics. I prefer to accept the appeal to the masses. I think it's appropriate here because "classics" as a category remains subject to the whims of a culture. I'm not sure that the category has any type of objective meaning apart from people--no book is simply a "classic" on its own without a group of people identifying it as such. It must be a subjective label. So, I resort to the masses because I think that they're less likely to be as myopic as the tower full of old, white men.
This may be a futile hope.
I don't know for sure, but I might still enjoy Moby Dick even if everyone said, "It's worthless." Heck, I enjoy Tom Clancy, and he's not achieved "classic" status (at least, I don't think he has.)