The Modern Literary Novel & The Simpsons
As "The Simpsons" - the longest-lasting comedy of any kind in prime-time TV history, surpassing "My Three Sons," "M*A*S*H," "Happy Days" and "Cheers" - airs its 400th episode, Julian Gough argues in the May 2007 Prospect Magazine issue that the modern literary novel should "steal from 'The Simpsons,' not Henry James." The literary novel, according to Gough, has "gone late Roman" not only for its overindulgence in tragedy and not comedy, but also because the literary novel has lost contact with what made it vital - mass audiences.
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Isn't it circular reasoning to claim that "the literary novel has lost contact with... mass audiences"? The genre "literary novel" is a marketing term that means that the novel won't have mass commercial appeal (barring an act of Oprah, that is). If it has mass appeal, it no longer qualifies as a "literary novel," but falls under some other (usually pejorative) genre like "chick lit" or "mystery."
Or am I missing something (I admit, I didn't read the entire article)?