Popular Fiction vs Literary/Serious Fiction

Most publishers talk highly of literary fiction and make money on popular fiction. Literary fiction sells the content of the book. But, popular fiction is more money oriented. The content of the book is not too important, the most important is the readers like the book, buy it, and get profit from it. Some people maintain that, by definition, literary fiction cannot be popular because literary equals difficult and inaccessible. Literary fiction uses difficult language that is hard to be understood. The popular fiction uses the easier/simpler language to be understood. The author of popular fiction has ability to make the common language uncommonly meaningful, and to make it seems tale freshly exciting (make something serious/boring become interesting). So, people prefer to read popular fiction. In literary fiction, the author is often judged by critics on his/her grasp of the scope and nuance of the English language, and on the lack of predictability of the narrative itself. The amount of effort readers put into literary fiction can be almost as same as the authors themselves. The readers try harder to understand the content of literary fiction book. But, the amount of effort a reader puts into popular fiction is minimal. Because of its easier language, the readers feel easy to understand the content. The content of popular fiction is easier to be guessed than literary fiction. Most of people prefer to read popular fiction because it can entertain readers, not to exercise the readers (literary fiction). In order for an author to be successful in literary fiction, positive reviews from important critics are absolutely vital (very important). E.g. the Myth books get critics from anthropologists, historians, etc. Through this way, the readers get the good and right analysis of the Myth book’s content. In popular fiction, the most important critics are the readers who pay money to buy books of their own choice. It is back to the aim of popular fiction, is making profit (money oriented). If a reader says the book is interesting to be read, it will influence the other readers interested to buy and read the popular fiction book. Critics dismiss popular fiction that has nothing to do reality. The story of popular fiction is usually shows a perfection and happy ending. It is far from the reality of life. The protagonist usually beautiful/handsome, ordinary people can do extraordinary things, and has a happy life. The content is not nonlinear prison (not restrained characteristics). It provides the good sides of life. Life is worth of pain, so the authors seem want to escape from it and create a perfect world in a popular fiction. It is done to make enjoyment of themselves and the readers. Popular fiction is more optimistic. The human condition may indeed be deplorable and full of sadness, but individuals can make a positive difference in their own and the others’ lives. E.g. Harry Potter has no parents. He has an enemy, Lord Voldemort who makes his life full of sadness, but Harry has a power and optimize himself to make his life happily ever after. The other casts in the story can influence in making a positive difference also. But, literary fiction is pessimistic. Life is seen as fundamentally absurd. The actor has no power to make a positive difference in his life. Popular fiction is heroic and transcendence at a time when heroism and transcendence are out of intellectual favor. Popular fiction can make the readers adore the actor in the story because the actor has a highly heroism.

by Resty