Literature, unlike Mathematics and Physics, is not an exact branch of
knowledge. While in Mathematics 2 multiplied by 2 equals 4, it doesn’t
have to be that way in literature. This is the main reason why when it
comes to the question of what literature is there is no exact
definition.
Muslim scholar and philosopher Imam Ja’far Al-Sadiq defined
literature as ‘the garment which one puts on what they say or write so
that it may appear more attractive. While
Russian Formalist Roman Jakobson states that literature is an ‘organized
violence committed on ordinary speech, Hornby defined literature as
‘(the writing of the study of) books, etc valued as works of art (drama,
fiction, essays, poetry, biography) contrasted with technical books and
journalism.
The definitions mentioned above are just three of many others
definitions that are recognized worldwide. However, each person might
have their own definitions of literature. When asked about the
definition of literature, Valentino Basswara, an English Literature
senior student, states that literature is ‘something made from deepest
thought and it could be defined as a respond to the society happenings’.
A different answer to the same question is offered by Junaedi Ghazali,
an English Literature junior student. According to Ghazali, literature
is ‘humans work in the form of written words that reflects beauty’.
Considering the numerous definitions of literature existed, many
people might be wondering of what literature actually is. There might be
some tricky questions, too, such as : Can a definition be judged right
or wrong? Are ordinary people are allowed to make their own definitions
of literature? What kind of work can be considered literature or
non-literature?
The world’s theories on literature is constantly evolving alongside
the changes and advances of society and technology. This happens because
it is the audience that is in charge of distinguishing literature.
Authors may use literature to represent their people, culture, and
tradition. However, since literature is completely open to
interpretation, it is the reader’s imagination of the readers that
brings a story to life. Literature affects its readers by triggering
their imaginations through language, and it is the interpretation of
that language that truly makes literature. Without readers to read and
interpret their books, the authors and their books are nothing.
Readers are so important for authors and their works that it is
unfair if critics are the only ones allowed to determine what literature
is and what non-literature is on the grounds of a standard of grammar
and syntax, of an unbelievable and unconnected story-line, or of
inconsistent or unconvincing characters. Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun,
for instance, is a play with many grammatical mistakes. Even so, the
response of the audience was so great that the play was stamped
literature straight away. On the other hand, an older literary work,
Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure was not considered literature
when it first published. It was badly criticized. The copies were even
burned. Yet as time changed, the response of the audience changed, and Jude the Obscure is now listed as a prominent literary work.
However different the cases are, however different the times are,
those examples show us that the response of the audience is the one to
determine what literature is. Readers’ responses are varied according to
the readers’ culture, tradition, point of views, education background,
ideologies, thoughts, beliefs, etc. The strongest factor in determining
readers response is the effect they get from the work.
Literature affects its readers. Literature uses ‘language open to
five senses’ to gently move us into a vivid and heartfelt response.
Literature is marked by its unique capability of using language to paint
worlds within our imaginations and to stir emotions that we did not
know existed. While writings like newspaper and textbooks and other
non-literature texts are being deciphered and absorbed, literature is
interpreted. When reading literature, we are introduced to a complete
new world which we have never seen yet or will never see in real life,
we are led into an imaginary world, our emotions are stirred and the way
it affects the readers effects the fact represented in the text.
Therefore, a response towards a literary work shown by a professor of
literature will be different with those shown by literature students,
mathematics students, politicians, ulama, nurses, street musicians, or a
cashier at supermarkets. This gives opportunities for every reader to
define literature and determine what literature or non-literature is. It
is supported by Teeuw’s theory, ‘literature is what a society regards
as literature, depends on several conventions it has.
There is no right or wrong in defining what literature is and
determining literature and non-literature. As long as each theory is
based on logical arguments, almost everything is welcome in literature.
Surely there might be different opinions and perspectives, but it is
these differences that make literature richer and more interesting that
any other subjects. Why? Because literature is not Mathematics. In
literature, 2 multiplied by 2 doesn’t have to equal 4
1 comments:
Literature is ...beautifull writing.
As beautifull as our friendship.
hehehe
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