Any thoughts on "Urban/Street Lit?" - CrimeSpace2024-03-28T19:33:34Zhttp://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/any-thoughts-on-urbanstreet?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A178403&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noYes, it really gets interesti…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-27:537324:Comment:1784032009-01-27T15:09:51.898ZJohn McFetridgehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnMcF
Yes, it really gets interesting when sub-genres start mixing and influencing - the way cyber-punk did with sci fi.<br />
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In crime fiction there was a time books led the way. Now, it looks like TV shows like <i>The Wire</i> are leading the way.<br />
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The question is, will anyone follow?
Yes, it really gets interesting when sub-genres start mixing and influencing - the way cyber-punk did with sci fi.<br />
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In crime fiction there was a time books led the way. Now, it looks like TV shows like <i>The Wire</i> are leading the way.<br />
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The question is, will anyone follow? This is one of the more fasci…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-27:537324:Comment:1784012009-01-27T14:59:36.793ZEDWARD C MORGANhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/ECMorgan
This is one of the more fascinating strings I've read in a while.<br />
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I'm not sure the author should be concerned with whether or not what's he/she is writing is "literature." I think he should be concerned with telling a good story.<br />
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After reading the posts, this is what is bouncing around my brain:<br />
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I'm not overly familiar with "urban lit." But certainly there have been sub-genres that came about that had varying degrees of popularity, but certainly impacted a genre as a whole. I'm think…
This is one of the more fascinating strings I've read in a while.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure the author should be concerned with whether or not what's he/she is writing is "literature." I think he should be concerned with telling a good story.<br />
<br />
After reading the posts, this is what is bouncing around my brain:<br />
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I'm not overly familiar with "urban lit." But certainly there have been sub-genres that came about that had varying degrees of popularity, but certainly impacted a genre as a whole. I'm think cyber-punk, which really had an impact on science fiction, especially movies. But the early cyber-punk novels were heavily criticized for their very graphic approach to storytelling.<br />
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Will Urban Lit do this?<br />
Does urban lit accurately portray a lifestyle many of us are not familiar with? Maybe this is what some are uncomfortable with.<br />
Will urban lit tell stories that otherwise might not be told?<br />
Will there be sub-sub genres to urban lit? Sort of like years ago you had a surge of "rural rap" music?<br />
What will urban lit "become" as it evolves?<br />
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An area of opposition may be related to this - I read the Socrates Fortlow stories by Walter Mosely. Now, I'm not sure if these books qualify as urban lit or not, but they certainly opened my eyes to a culture, a lifestyle, a something I'd not experienced before. While sometimes I was bothered by the stories, I loved them and kept reading... People will opposed what they are not comfortable with.<br />
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From what little I know, Memphis might be a great background. I'm from there and my folks still live there. It has gang problems, racial problems, and more. Sadly, every genre and sub-ge…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-27:537324:Comment:1783932009-01-27T14:49:00.853ZEDWARD C MORGANhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/ECMorgan
Sadly, every genre and sub-genre has a number of writers that crank out poor books that make money. Nothing wrong with making money as a writer, but I've read folks in mysteries, sci-fi, fantasy, westerns and pretty much either genre that simple make me think "what a waste of money."
Sadly, every genre and sub-genre has a number of writers that crank out poor books that make money. Nothing wrong with making money as a writer, but I've read folks in mysteries, sci-fi, fantasy, westerns and pretty much either genre that simple make me think "what a waste of money." Hahaha ! I like the thong thi…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-24:537324:Comment:1779692009-01-24T01:13:55.603ZDwighthttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Dwight
Hahaha ! I like the thong thing myself, but I do see why people get so worked up against this genre as a whole. Hey, it works for some people, or it wouldn't be in print and there woudln't be a 'genre.'<br />
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Now as a writer, the question is do you 'dumb down' your story to cater to a wider audience or do you maintain your scope, sharpen your craft and stay in your niche? Some of these writers with run on sentences are quite successful, but at the end of the day does that mean their work is any…
Hahaha ! I like the thong thing myself, but I do see why people get so worked up against this genre as a whole. Hey, it works for some people, or it wouldn't be in print and there woudln't be a 'genre.'<br />
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Now as a writer, the question is do you 'dumb down' your story to cater to a wider audience or do you maintain your scope, sharpen your craft and stay in your niche? Some of these writers with run on sentences are quite successful, but at the end of the day does that mean their work is any good? I'm going to immediately start working on a street lit story set in rural Arkansas with a girl in a sweaty thong on the cover. The changing POVs and lack of…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-23:537324:Comment:1779272009-01-23T16:18:39.422ZJohn McFetridgehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnMcF
The changing POVs and lack of continuity are problems for sure, but I don't get what's wrong with the girl in the thong on the cover ;)
The changing POVs and lack of continuity are problems for sure, but I don't get what's wrong with the girl in the thong on the cover ;) I'm in agreement with Graham.…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-23:537324:Comment:1779082009-01-23T15:26:58.322ZSylvia Hubbardhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/SylviaHubbard1
I'm in agreement with Graham. I'm happy that it gets people to reading.<br />
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My problem with though isn't the readers, it's the writers and the people who have the nerve to call themselves writers, but they are just doing it to get a buck. Like any other popular genre, there needs to be some justification in it. Throwing a girl wearing a thong with sweat all over it on the cover and then writing run on sentences, changing POV's with no continuity whatsoever makes me look bad. And then I have to sit…
I'm in agreement with Graham. I'm happy that it gets people to reading.<br />
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My problem with though isn't the readers, it's the writers and the people who have the nerve to call themselves writers, but they are just doing it to get a buck. Like any other popular genre, there needs to be some justification in it. Throwing a girl wearing a thong with sweat all over it on the cover and then writing run on sentences, changing POV's with no continuity whatsoever makes me look bad. And then I have to sit here and explain why a reader lost fifteen bucks, while the writer is no where to be seen. I have to admit I could never…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-12:537324:Comment:1763742009-01-12T16:01:13.604ZJohn McFetridgehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnMcF
I have to admit I could never get into those Executioner books and that kind of thing, but that's just tatse (I can't get into Mickey Spillane, either).<br />
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But, in terms of, "pandering to racial stereotypes," I guess that's also an issue of taste to some degree and how we see literature. If those stereotypes exist and the author is doing a good job of presenting them as they actually are, then that's okay with me. I like literature that holds up a mirror to its world, that shines a light on its…
I have to admit I could never get into those Executioner books and that kind of thing, but that's just tatse (I can't get into Mickey Spillane, either).<br />
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But, in terms of, "pandering to racial stereotypes," I guess that's also an issue of taste to some degree and how we see literature. If those stereotypes exist and the author is doing a good job of presenting them as they actually are, then that's okay with me. I like literature that holds up a mirror to its world, that shines a light on its world (hang on, I can come up with more cliches ;) rather than stuff that presents the world as the writer feels it should be. I had given up hope of ever s…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-11:537324:Comment:1762202009-01-11T12:15:59.676ZPate Grantwellhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/PateGrantwell
I had given up hope of ever seeing any reference to Nick Carter that didn't have something to do with the back street boys. Books about Nick Carter, Callan created by James Mitchell, and Mack Bolan created by Don Pendelton, are guilty pleasures I'd happily read again.
I had given up hope of ever seeing any reference to Nick Carter that didn't have something to do with the back street boys. Books about Nick Carter, Callan created by James Mitchell, and Mack Bolan created by Don Pendelton, are guilty pleasures I'd happily read again. I agree that anything that ge…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-11:537324:Comment:1762052009-01-11T03:12:48.956ZDwighthttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Dwight
I agree that anything that gets people to read is a good thing, but I think people who object to the lifestyle depicted in these stories do have some valid issues. I remember reading Donald Goines' books as a young kid, and those books eventualy led me to "Nick Carter-Killmaster" stories (i'm dating myself here!) and Frederick Forsyth, Robert Ludlum and Edgar Allen Poe.<br />
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I dont know what is considered literary writing, and personally, I think if I did I wouldnt like it too much, but I haven't…
I agree that anything that gets people to read is a good thing, but I think people who object to the lifestyle depicted in these stories do have some valid issues. I remember reading Donald Goines' books as a young kid, and those books eventualy led me to "Nick Carter-Killmaster" stories (i'm dating myself here!) and Frederick Forsyth, Robert Ludlum and Edgar Allen Poe.<br />
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I dont know what is considered literary writing, and personally, I think if I did I wouldnt like it too much, but I haven't seen anything that would be considered literary in the genre. The point about John Singleton is a valid point; i'm sure that movie has also inspired many of the books being published now under the umbrella of urban lit.<br />
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Spillane was never recognized, regardless of how influential he was, just as Donald Goines and Edgar Allen Poe also never received ther due rewards in this life.<br />
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I like John's idea though, how about a urban lit book set in Memphis? or Little Rock, Ark? (never been but i've heard they have a rampant gang problem). Hmmm......maybe I need to sharpen my pencil. There's a Wkikipedia entry he…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-11:537324:Comment:1761972009-01-11T02:14:47.361ZJohn McFetridgehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnMcF
There's a Wkikipedia entry <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_fiction">here</a>.
There's a Wkikipedia entry <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_fiction">here</a>.