In “How To Read Literature Like A Professor,” Foster applies King Solomon’s precept, “There is nothing new under the sun,” to the world of literature. He suggests that all works of literature, while distinct in their own right, are influenced by previous writings. Foster addresses the topic of originality by stating, “there’s no such thing as a wholly original work of literature”(24). This concept can be used to explain how many stories follow a similar pattern and include similar character arcs. When Foster writes, “there’s only one story,”(27), he is proposing that all literature begins as an idea derived from or based on another piece of literature. This idea broadens the reading experience for the reason that multiple pieces of literature are able to connect to one another, allowing the reader to analyze recurring themes in the pieces. It can also provide a connection to modern day literature and literature of the past, addressing similarities and differences between time periods. This concept is present in many other art forms. For example, many different paintings share similar motifs and techniques. With each new art movement or era, certain aspects of the previous movements are incorporated in the new artworks. Another specific art form that this concept applies to is filmography. Movies have been around since the late nineteenth century and have served as a profoundly important art form that remains at the forefront of society. It can be seen that movies have recurring themes and plots, and many modern day movies take inspiration from classic films in the same way that new works of literature take inspiration from classic literature.
As stated above, the connection between pieces of literature, as they all derive from the same concepts, truly allows readers to have a deeper understanding of recurring ideas that appear in texts (whether that be themes, symbols, et cetera). With that being said, the examples given about how there are many paintings and movies that depict events from the past applies perfectly to this concept, because it shows that literature is not the only art form trying to recreate history and historical practices (even if it is in modern fashion). When there is a new painting or movie created that incorporates characteristics of former eras and events, people are able to gain a deeper understanding of how current affairs have similarities to previous times. Literature is the same in that it all originates from past and thus the concept of originality does not exist within the genre.
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