Keith Gessen: Why Did You Write All The Sad Young Literary Men?

TL;DR

A reflection on the depiction and criticism of a social class in literature.

Transcript

well partly um this is what I know um and I it's something you know when I was in my early 20s I was writing all sorts of stories um and I wrote a few of these stories about these sort of guys um and an editor uh editor named Josh Glenn who was the editor of herut um you know these stories they're not in the book they didn't make it into the book t... Read More

Key Insights

• ✍️ The speaker's early writing experiences shaped his understanding of a certain group of individuals ripe for literary exploration.
• 🏛️ Criticism of the book stems from a reluctance to identify with a social class portrayed in literature.
• 🫵 The speaker challenges the perception of irony as the only acceptable lens to view social class in literature.
• 🙈 Hipster culture is seen as an example of ironic classing down, where individuals pretend to be from a different social class.
• 😥 The book aims to provide an honest portrayal of the behaviors of the sad young literary men, showcasing their complexity.
• 🤑 The speaker hopes for more literature to delve into the nuances of this social class for a richer understanding of society.
• 💅 Men behaving badly are often depicted as total cads, but the sad young literary men exhibit a mix of behaviors, both positive and negative.

Questions & Answers

Q: What inspired the speaker to write stories about these particular individuals?

The speaker was inspired to write stories about these individuals based on his personal experiences and observations, feeling a connection that made their portrayal compelling.

Q: How does the criticism of the book reflect a refusal to acknowledge social class?

The criticism of the book reflects a reluctance to acknowledge belonging to a social class and a preference for irony over genuine representation in literature.

Q: Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of depicting these individuals in literature?

The speaker believes that these individuals, as part of a social class, should be depicted in literature for a more authentic reflection of society and its complexities.

Q: What does the speaker think sets these characters apart from typical portrayals of men behaving badly?

The speaker emphasizes that these characters are more nuanced than typical depictions of men behaving badly, showing a range of behaviors from sweetness to unkindness.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker recounts his early writing experiences and how stories about certain individuals caught an editor's attention.

• Criticism of the book for portraying familiar characters, challenging the refusal to admit belonging to a social class.

• Discusses the role of literary men and women as a social class and the irony of their depiction in literature.