The value of genre

[graculus]

It's funny how you run across snobbishness in the oddest of places... I recently had a passing conversation with a couple of folks at the place where I teach, which went a little like this:

Teacher A: I bet you read a lot of books, don't you?
Me: Well, I read about 120 last year, so yes.
Teacher B: Oh, what kind of books do you like?
Me: Most of what I read was science fiction and fantasy. I used to read a lot of crime books, but I got a bit bored with them.
Teacher B: Oh. I only read non-fiction.

Yes, because that's clearly much more worthy than me spending my time with (enjoyable but obviously) shameful genre books. Poor me, thinking that actually reading is a good thing when I could be aspiring to the lofty heights of non-fiction!

Actually, I do occasionally read non-fiction, but not across the board. Mostly history and cultural stuff, with the (very) occasional biography thrown in.

Pfft.

E.T.A. Fortunately, I stopped myself from saying 'oh, and I also read a lot of gay porn based on TV shows and movies, what do you think about that?' ;)

Comments

[delphi]

I probably wouldn't have resisted the urge to innocently (and passive-aggressively) act sympathetic: "Oh, I hear you. Something straightforward like non-fiction is easier when you're busy. I was the same way when I first started teaching."

[graculus]

Given that this individual is nearing retirement, I think something like "Yes, linear narratives must be so comforting when you're getting older, isn't that so?" would have worked better. ;)

[delphi]

Ha! Yes, I love it.

I met up with an old co-worker for coffee yesterday, and when we got to the subject of trying to read more in the new year, she launched into the lengthy list of scientific non-fiction she's been reading as she pursues a degree in biology.

Me: "I, uh, I actually just finished reading all the new Archie comics?"

Her: "Oh my god, I've heard those are so good! I just retweeted that Buzzfeed article about Jughead being canonically asexual!"

These are the sorts of conversations about reading that are much more worth having. I came away with two good recommendations for popular science books about ecology and infectious disease, and she bought the first collection of Rick & Morty comics off Comixology from the table.

[farad]

LOL - all the stuff Delphi said. I often encounter reading snobbery in academia; as we mourn the fact that students refuse to read, we are so critical of what we choose to read. It's a very sad contradiction for those of us in the ivory towers . . .