7 February 2006

Fiction: “Don’t Explain”; “The Lesson” Nonfiction: from “No Name in the Street”

Fiction-nonfiction dialogue: Joel Carter

Introduction: The ambiguous distinctions between fiction and nonfiction invite the creation of a third category. The hybrids that fall into this category are not of the ubiquitous “fact laced with fiction” variety (see also: Oprah’s recent infamous book club selection). The convergence of fiction and nonfiction is fiction told with such a compelling voice that the story must be real.

Today’s readings encapsulate these three diverse forms of writing. James Baldwin’s “No Name in the Street” plays the role of the personal narrative nonfiction dialogue. Meanwhile, “Don’t Explain” represents the traditional American fiction (although it is probably safe to assume that Gomez’s life experience shaped the characters and events in her work). Toni Cade Bambara’s “The Lesson” seems to be the logical synthesis of the other two selections by offering a fictional story that, when read aloud, seems to be anything but “made up.”

Questions:  What makes “No Name in the Street” a personal narrative?

What makes the other works fall in a different category?

When does the prevalence of real-life occurrences change a fiction work to non-fiction work?

Conversely, when does the presence of fictionalized accounts make a personal narrative no longer “personal”?

Do you care about such distinctions, or are you comfortable in this “Based on True Events” world in which we live?

Conclusion:  Looking for the salient characteristics of fiction and nonfiction led me to accept the following tautology: good writing is good writing. Resist the temptation to be one of “those people” who professes a hatred for fiction because they want to read about something that actually happened. Fight the urge to be the “type” who discounts nonfiction in the pursuit of the fictional dream world. Find good writing and enjoy it.

Oh yeah, and when you have to stand up in front of this class, don’t start your presentation by telling your classmates that since you are not a literature major every thing you say will be wrong. Even non-literature majors have some good things to say about literature…