As everyone knows, one of my favorite things is postulating (after the manner of Balzac) categories that are so specific that they barely fit anything other than the single instance they are describing.
So, describing DANIEL DERONDA to Talya, I said, "It's one of those later works by an author that is still great, of course, because it is developing ideas that were already-present, but too ambitious to be purely enjoyable." And then the only other work I could think of to put in this category was ...And Justice for All, by Metallica.
[Yet another, still interesting, but broader, category would be: works obviously after an artist has peaked, but still worth having.]
Here's the one I'm working with today. Totally definitive generic works. The single most obvious example to demonstrate a genre. Not the "best," but maybe the least idiosyncratic while still rising above mediocrity. "Generic" therefore in the best sense. (Basically unambiguous.)
I encourage comments.
FILM----
Hollywood Western: Shane
Spaghetti Western: Big Gundown
Noir: Out of the Past (which I don't care for), or The Postman Always Rings Twice
MUSIC:
Grindcore: Terrorizer "World Downfall"
Youth Crew: Project X 7"
UK82: Partisans "Police Story"
Thrash Metal: Metallica "Kill Em All" or Megadeth "Peace Sells"
Country Rock: Byrds "Sweetheart of the Rodeo"
Glam: David Bowie "Ziggy Stardust"
NWOBHM: Diamond Head "Lightning to the Nations"
Goth: Sisters of Mercy "First and Last and Always"
British Invasion: I have a record in mind from a previous conversation but I can't remember what I think the answer to this one is.
Oi: Blitz, "Voice of a Generation"
Black Metal: Ulver, "Nattens Madrigal"
Shoegaze: My Bloody Valentine "Loveless"
name some more...
Books:
Tragedy: Oedipus Rex
Epic: The Aeneid
Romanticism: Tintern Abbey
Realist novel: Also couldn't think of one here. Something by Trollope maybe?
In a way, there shouldn't be "argument" about this, because the very premise is "We all agree that this is what XXXX genre is, therefore we should agree on its exemplification in YYYY work." But I haven't read/heard/seen everything; there might be a way more normative oi! album that "Voice of a Generation," for instance...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I don't think you mean "normative" here. These are not works to which everything else is held up and compared to - unless of course you mean this, in which case I would disagree. Maybe "exemplary"?
I think maybe he means a work that serves as a (recognized or not) template for later works in that genre, but because of the exemplar-y-ness of the former effort, makes these latter almost automatically hackneyed. Reminds me of Locke's account of nominal essences.
I agree with 'Loveless' when it comes to Shoegaze. I would also include 'Chaos is Me' for quoteunquote screamo.
Post a Comment