Thursday, March 02, 2006
Kritika
Lo so che per persone intelligenti e colte come Citati e Ferroni i miei libri stanno alla letteratura come il fast-food alla cucina francese, o come la pornografia all'erotismo. (Alessandro Baricco)
Last week's heated (and at times funny) debate between J'accuse, myself and Xifer started out by J'accuse pulling my leg by calling me a clone, progressed with a prolonged (and it seems alienating) tit-for-tat between the two of us, and climaxed with Xifer's 'entrata a piedi uniti' (mainly on j'accuse's ankles). If you ignore the insults and veiled (and not so veiled) nastiness, you'd find that some interesting things were being said about what I'd like to call "intellectual copyright" and the role of the intellectual in Maltese society. Xifer's point that the survival kit needed in this society are bull's balls, a forked tongue and a large pair of lungs to snuff out everyone else's candle was, I think, close to the truth.
Today, I came across an interesting botta e risposta between author Alessandro Baricco (of Seta and Novecento fame) and a well-known Italian critic who had passed a snide remark about one of Baricco's latest works. Baricco could have shut up and let the remark pass but decided not to. Giulio Ferroni, the critic, counter-attacked presto.
In Malta, I think, writers have a different sort of problem which is that the only real criticism is the one which they impose on themselves. They're either simply not read or are read by a small group of 'fans' who'll pat the author on the back and say 'prosit, man' all too easily. They might add 'ostra cool' for added effect. We have started bashing TV programmes but works of literature appear to me to be exempt from any real debate. This is a pity since it limits their impact to a very small crowd of devotees and prevents them from being read 'in context'.
Have you heard anyone publicly describing a Maltese poem as really quite awful? ¶ 6:27 AM
Last week's heated (and at times funny) debate between J'accuse, myself and Xifer started out by J'accuse pulling my leg by calling me a clone, progressed with a prolonged (and it seems alienating) tit-for-tat between the two of us, and climaxed with Xifer's 'entrata a piedi uniti' (mainly on j'accuse's ankles). If you ignore the insults and veiled (and not so veiled) nastiness, you'd find that some interesting things were being said about what I'd like to call "intellectual copyright" and the role of the intellectual in Maltese society. Xifer's point that the survival kit needed in this society are bull's balls, a forked tongue and a large pair of lungs to snuff out everyone else's candle was, I think, close to the truth.
Today, I came across an interesting botta e risposta between author Alessandro Baricco (of Seta and Novecento fame) and a well-known Italian critic who had passed a snide remark about one of Baricco's latest works. Baricco could have shut up and let the remark pass but decided not to. Giulio Ferroni, the critic, counter-attacked presto.
In Malta, I think, writers have a different sort of problem which is that the only real criticism is the one which they impose on themselves. They're either simply not read or are read by a small group of 'fans' who'll pat the author on the back and say 'prosit, man' all too easily. They might add 'ostra cool' for added effect. We have started bashing TV programmes but works of literature appear to me to be exempt from any real debate. This is a pity since it limits their impact to a very small crowd of devotees and prevents them from being read 'in context'.
Have you heard anyone publicly describing a Maltese poem as really quite awful? ¶ 6:27 AM
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The same thing happens in the music scene. In fact, in general Malta tends to view the notion of 'criticism' in a negative light. Criticism is automatically percieved as something destructive. The big political parties have alot to do with this state of affairs.
The sad thing is that without genuine criticism one cannot attempt to improve their output. It's not the first time that we've heard "jien immur narhom lil dawk, ghax Maltin man". What the fuck? If this mentality results in full concerts (or whatever) then bands (or whatever) won't attempt to improve.
Not to mention that Malta is too small for people to go about stepping on other people's artistic kallijiet. Plus alot of people are unable to accept criticism. A vicious circle that is in desperate need to be broken...
The sad thing is that without genuine criticism one cannot attempt to improve their output. It's not the first time that we've heard "jien immur narhom lil dawk, ghax Maltin man". What the fuck? If this mentality results in full concerts (or whatever) then bands (or whatever) won't attempt to improve.
Not to mention that Malta is too small for people to go about stepping on other people's artistic kallijiet. Plus alot of people are unable to accept criticism. A vicious circle that is in desperate need to be broken...
I think peklectrick got it in one. The Maltese arts scene is just too small to accommodate frank critisicm. When I worked for a Maltese newspaper, a critic who now goes by the blogging name of erezija, dared to criticise the pisspoor Ray and the Characters' latest CD and the wrath of God descended on the newspaper from all quarters. It is considered better to give a condescending, dishonest review than a negative one. I think it is partly from fear of reprisal and partly from an inferiority complex which manifests itself by being overly sensitive to criticism.
I imagine that with literature it must be even worse, as the possibility that you are going to bump into the person that you have reviewed at the next drinks party, wedding etc. is a real one. And no-one likes a punch-up at a wedding.
Maybe what is needed is an Amnesty International-style, indendepent, outside rapporteur to pass judgement on the Maltese scene. Personally, I would have no problem with seeing Ray l-Ingliz tried in the Hague for crimes against humanity.
I imagine that with literature it must be even worse, as the possibility that you are going to bump into the person that you have reviewed at the next drinks party, wedding etc. is a real one. And no-one likes a punch-up at a wedding.
Maybe what is needed is an Amnesty International-style, indendepent, outside rapporteur to pass judgement on the Maltese scene. Personally, I would have no problem with seeing Ray l-Ingliz tried in the Hague for crimes against humanity.
Just one thing. Mark does not seemed to be promoting the "forked tongue" approach at all. His was an attack on a category or categories. The way I read it was that since he does not like it we are meant to shut up. Which will obviously not happen.
I also did not like the usual implication that everyone has his area of expertise and should stay in it. With no respect to anyone I am a tautologist. I stick my nose into anything from nuclear physics to literature to the law and I feel that I am a complete renaissance and post-renaissance man (bil-firilla b'kollox as you would say) just because of that.
having said that I still believe that the biggest problem we have is ENVY, particularly of success whether perceived or otherwise. And it is arrogant persons or persons who are satirically arrogant that will attract the greatest amount of mud - especially because they are perceived to have self-arrogated positions of power and hence are a menace.
We enjoy the throne, the sarcasm and calling people clone... bring it on!
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I also did not like the usual implication that everyone has his area of expertise and should stay in it. With no respect to anyone I am a tautologist. I stick my nose into anything from nuclear physics to literature to the law and I feel that I am a complete renaissance and post-renaissance man (bil-firilla b'kollox as you would say) just because of that.
having said that I still believe that the biggest problem we have is ENVY, particularly of success whether perceived or otherwise. And it is arrogant persons or persons who are satirically arrogant that will attract the greatest amount of mud - especially because they are perceived to have self-arrogated positions of power and hence are a menace.
We enjoy the throne, the sarcasm and calling people clone... bring it on!
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