Question of the Week: The Author Recluse

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What do you think about authors who intentionally stay out of the lime light?

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Education

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[TheAcidpants]

This reminded me of Henry Darger. He wrote a 15 thousand page book with watercolor illustrations about everything a man could imagine, though no one knew about this until after he died. I think the term 'recluse' could be applied to any of us who don't necessarily seek attention. I believe Pynchon is an example of this. I imagine he takes the whole reclusive author thing lightheartedly and plays along with it for the news, but in reality he is no different than anyone else you see on the street.

[gnites88]

@TheAcidpants Wow. I never heard of Darger. I really feel all of what you said.

[natehill]

Tough question. This could really go either way. By the end of the day, it really doesn't matter if the artist locks himself away or not, as long as the art is good.

[gnites88]

@natehill Well put.

[frumaatholoid]

So yes, I do think there is something to be said for reclusivity, or tragedy or any kind of eccentricity influencing how we view a writer and their work. For some people, I think it makes them more interesting. I remember how my professors constantly reiterated that the reader needs to seperate the artists' work from their life if you want to judge the work correctly.

[TheAcidpants]

@gnites88 The books discovery an amazing story to read in itself but it's an extreme example. On the opposite end of the spectrum there's stuff like Twain's autobiography which he didn't want released for a century following his death. I understand not wanting something published in your lifetime by specifying 100 years seems melodramatic. Ha, perhaps posthumous publications could be a topic for another segment of "Question of the 'Week'".

[LiftYourSkinnyFist]

@LiftYourSkinnyFist I guess what I'm getting at is not every artist that wishes to keep their work seperate from their lives are a recluse, and we should respect their wishes and focus on their work/s to accurately understand what is trying to be conveyed.

In short, it does not sway me one way or another whether or not the artist is a "recluse," however, it is always nice ti gain deeper insight into the artist.

[LiftYourSkinnyFist]

@gnites88 I agree notice inherently comes with success, particularly of an artist, but a "true" artist does not produce what they do for attention, fame or money. They do so because it is a form of expression and wish to share these views they have with others. Not to imply every artist that shares their personal life with the media/fans is not "true" (lol,) but as you said, attention inherently comes with success- how some choose to respond to this attention is unique to their disposition.

[frumaatholoid]

I think about how much the life of the writer can inform said writer's reputation. Sometimes it can be quite considerable. When Jane Eyre was first published, part of what boosted its popularity was the mystery surrounding the author's identity; when Bronte was discovered to have lived a very sheltered and sad life, I think it influenced the myth of her existance (and that of her sisters') and the pathos of her novel.

[frumaatholoid]

Selfish? a perverse way of getting fame? definitely not. When I think 'recluse' I think of Emily Dickinson, someone who could've been agoraphobic. I think, as you mention, Salinger wasn't a true recluse; he just shunned the spotlight and wished to be a private person. There's nothing wrong with that in my opinion (as for Pynchon I can't say; I haven't read anything by him nor do I know much about him).

[nge1301]

@SaveAD /watch?v=jR0588DtHJA

Pynchon actually voiced that