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Originally Posted by JSWolf
Does that mean that The Da Vinci Code and 50 Shades of Grey are classics? They aren't classics. As for lasting value, a lot of the old classics don't have lasting value.
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At it's broadest definition (what
I call a classic), then yes. The Da Vinci Code and 50 Shades of Grey could be in somebody's list of classics. At it's narrowest definition, then no they aren't. The haven't survived the test of time.
I've found a couple of online definitions that agree with how *I* define a classic.
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A classic book is a book that is very well known and passed down through generations. An example of this is Robert Louis Stevenson' s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, published in 1886. Most people know about this book, even if they have not read it. Eveyone is familiar with the phrase "Jekyll and Hyde personality." There are also movies based on this book, and the character Mr. Hyde appears in other movies.A classic book will be read and appreciated for years to come. The book is also used in modern culture. An example of this is Charles Dickens' book, A Christmas Carol. There are multiple plays and movies about this book. Many people know about Scrooge and his catch phrase, "Bah Humbug." A classic book is of very good quality and written very well. The book is symbolic and represents something in our culture.
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http://classicbooks.sblc.wikispaces....a+Classic+Book
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1) A novel, non-fiction or other literary work (ex: collection of poems or a play) that has been able to connect to its audience over many decades or centuries - Timelessness. No matter when the work was written, the reader is able to feel and understand it. For example, readers in the 21st century can still relate to Huckleberry Finn because of its theme of innocence. Anyone at any period of time understands innocence. When an author has the ability to connect with readers many years after their work is published is an amazing ability. In that sense, a book that was written only a few years ago wouldn't be considered a "classic" because it hasn't proven its longevity and stood its course over time. Also, typically "classics" are novels and collections of poems rather than information that is included in textbooks or covered in the educational studies of math, the sciences, and the arts (excluding the literary arts).
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http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/...ot/td-p/252725
So, define "Classics" any way you want. Just don't *expect* most people to agree with you.