Reader Responses to Harold Bloom

Reader responses to the post about literary/cultural critic Harold Bloom, with comments and links to other articles.

FROM PAULA T., COMMENT

 I have enjoyed reading Bloom’s criticism over the years particularly because it was thoroughly readable and understandable - a negative to some academics. As far as his prediction of the path academia would take it seems he was spot on. Even when my kids went to college they weren't required to take survey courses. Instead of broadening the canon his critics seem to have narrowed it down into specialties much like medicine. The generalist is a thing of the past. . . read criticism sporadically, never evaluating it, just kind of happy to find something stimulating about some book i was interested in. Every time I visit Renee in Monterrey i read a bit of her copy of Genius just to see what he says about Henry James. He approves. Bloom included Colette in one of his many great writers lists. I approve .He wrote so many damned books I can’t keep track.

I thought he looked more than a bit like Eeyore, but then I adore Eeyore. He was absolutely brilliant and much maligned. He just wasn't PC. In the 80s, when my children informed me that survey literature courses were no longer required, I was appalled. They seemed to go straight through to what I would call electives! I believe a background in great literature should be required.  Isn't it possible to expand literature without throwing the proverbial baby out. Couldn’t world literature be the requirement rather than allowing students to take isolated courses in whatever.  I am so saddened by the the disappearance of the liberal arts. It seems to be something for the elite and even they have to make sure to study what will result in a high income. Bloom certainly was right.

Excellent op ed in today’s Times [Did Harold Bloom or Toni Morrison Win the Literary Canon Wars] arguing that they both won and both lost due to the decline in liberal studies, brought about, I think, by the escalating costs of higher education. Nice way to keep the economy tipped toward the top.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/19/opinion/sunday/harold-bloom-canon.html

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FROM DANA, A LINK TO A STORY ABOUT BLOOM'S EARLY ROOTS AND JOURNEY

  

 https://www.jta.org/2019/10/17/culture/harold-bloom-dreamed-in-yiddish-until-his-death

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FROM NOAH G., COMMENT & LINK TO A GUARDIAN ARTICLE CHARACTERIZING BLOOM AS "A CRITIC WHO POLARISED OPINION"

Interesting article: Harold Bloom was right to extol great literature, but was often blind to who was neglected.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/oct/20/harold-bloom-defence-of-western-greats-blinded-him-to-other-cultures?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard

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FROM KARLAN, COMMENT
Thanks.  I had skimmed the obit and am glad I read it now more thoroughly.  His prediction seems unlikely to me.  It would be good to discuss with current English majors.  

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From Storyweaver: How many college students choose English or liberal arts as majors? More generally, do people know what they're missing if they don't read the classics, in or out of the "canon?" Is it really easier and more convenient just to go with the media flow of comforting/distracting sounds, settings, one line "ideas. . . ?"