Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Has Hollywood Hijacked Our Novelists?
()
The Guardian has an irritating blog post about LA writers. The gist: LA poet and novelist Rob Woodard wonders where all the good novelists in LA have gone. He points to the well-known "great" LA writers (Chandler, Nathaniel West, John Fante, Bukowski) and a few others, then deems LA literature mostly dead for the past thirty years.
His reasoning? Would-be novelists have been lured by Hollywood into screenwriting and joke-writing for the late night shows. He even goes so far as to define such writing as "easy work" done in an industry that is "artistically negligible" and by mere association, makes it seems as if this kind of writing isn't really writing at all.
We'd say tell it to the WGA writers who work their asses off writing every day, but he's already thought of them:
Support for LAist comes from
I have come to realise that, as a group, these screenwriters are Los Angeles' most influential authors. As an Angeleno novelist and poet, however, I find myself bristling at the idea that those making their living within fields which are so often artistically negligible have attained this position.
But that's not where the insults end. Woodard (who, it should be noted, hasn't written anything for the screen that we can find) goes on to say that watching the WGA strike has been upsetting to him:
Where are LA's great writers? I'm sure a few at least are writing sit-com dialogue or cranking out jokes for late-night talk show hosts - and it is this reality that for a lover of literature such as myself makes watching their brave push to obtain a fair contract such a bittersweet affair.
You know what this sounds like to us? A bitter poet who couldn't get a sitcom job if he tried. Because if he had tried - and succeeded - he would surely know it isn't "easy." We're pretty sure that writing 30 Rock and The Wire and many other shows that we adore isn't easy. We'd say how dare he, but we're so offended by his other crazy claim that we can't really concentrate on his annoying "screenwriting is easy" claim. Woodard's big complaint is: "Where are LA's great writers?" Really? How can you live in LA and say something like that out loud? Los Angeles is filled with many excellent writers - of the novelist sort and the screenwriter sort -- and has been for the thirty or so years in question. We could list a few dozen without even trying. Can you?
Photo by tj scenes via Flickr
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist