The video taps into a common sentiment about the perceived decline of literary fiction and uses a relatable comparison between past and present best-sellers to illustrate the point. The creator's personal reflection and hypothesis about the "MFA-ification" of literature likely resonate with readers and writers, while the mention of influential magazines and platforms like Substack and BookTok adds cultural relevance.
Summary
The video discusses the perceived decline of literary fiction in America. The creator references an article comparing best-selling novels from 1962 to 2023, noting the absence of literary fiction in the latter list. They propose that the "MFA-ification" of literary fiction, with its focus on prestige over commercial appeal, has led to a self-perpetuating cycle of reduced popularity and relevance.
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Transcript, structure and on-screen text
6 beats, a 606-word transcript and 159 lines of on-screen text — the parts you need to write your own version.
Im a little burned out on alt lit and lit fic and Brooklyn auto fiction and all that, but I do genuinely still find TRANSFORMATIVE new lit fic reads every single month!! oyyy.substack.com for the essay! It’s called Cultural Decline of Literary Fiction. #literaryfiction