Dry Bones of Contention: The Critic or the Critique

Writers tend to be critical of critics. One must ask whether they should be criticizing the critique instead.

As readers, we wade through lengthy loads of literary luggage, with long lists of contents and dictionary definitions. Are these necessary in literature, one must ask?

We might suggest that combination lock numbers, used to unravel time in transit and old, worn out, doggy-bone arguments of indifference, are kind of like a literary plague at times, or at least it seems that way. We patiently read these too.

Then of course, there is the regressive, retentive element of history that keeps on popping up like huge cigars of wisdom that have been puffed to death. The ancient allegations with their decrepit denials and defenses argued relentlessly are ready to wrinkle Father Time's face further. We accept those quite willingly too.

How many times do we read dank and disgusting revelries, drab descriptions and look at fuzzy faces fading on the walls, as some kind of a flip-flop in reality's square? These are like ‘weighty, wordy weapons’ against ‘the reptiles that are replicating relentlessly’.

Much of what we read is more like eating pretzels without salt or playing slippery, slovenly scrabble, while we wade through contemporary, crisscross critiques about deep-fried dragons, full of fractured and fragmented fantasies.

Oh, the world of wild and wonderful words, but it can prove questionable at times.

Oh, I would the harshest critic be, if were to be one. Should we not criticize the critique, rather than the critic?

These all appear to be ‘dry bones of contention’.

On the other hand, does it not take a bit of courage to stand up as a critic, even knowing that as the critic you could wind up being the object of a critique instead?

At least to some degree, we all stand in our own element of understanding in terms of how we comprehend what we read. Even the critic has to stand somewhere. Part of what makes life interesting is the reality that there is such a complexity and diversity in what we do get to read.

Imagine for just one moment a world where there were no critics and no critiques. It might be great for a while, but it would not take long before boredom would set in. In itself, that might prove to be an even worse plague.

Reluctantly, we wrestle with critiques and critics, but we have to face it. Reality demands both. Should we be so critical of the critics? Maybe we are not critical enough. Who knows? Remember that even dry bones are good for flavoring soup!