I'm taking a break and will be returning to my blogspot in January. Meanwhile, I'll be working on an article concerned with the question of star quality in reporters. What gives a reporter his or her license to use the first person singular in print? How is such star quality manifest in the text; how is it being justified, maintained and reinforced in the actual writing? Thoughts and comments are welcome.
Merry Christmas.
1 comment:
Interesting question indeed.
One thing I have noticed as a particular trait in writings by First Person In Print Writers is that there is a tendency that the writer a priori expects his or her readers to be familiar with the writer's family backgrounds. Take Morten Sabroe's tribute to Klaus Rifbjerg where he introduces his mom's vendetta-like view on Rifbjerg. Or take almost any book review in Weekendavisen by Anne Knudsen where she refers to her children, their friends, her own childhood in Greenland - or her fieldwork in Corsica which she presumes her readers will know about by now.
Weekendavisen has two other writers who particularly use their (familiy) backgrounds as material for their writing, the first being Bo Green Jensen who in the personal column has described both his divorce and his new marriage, and thus elsewhere can use this intimate knowledge he has shared with his readers (for instance in film reviews). The second is Arne Hardis who not only integrates descriptions of his family but also his own political background into his writings. "When I used to work at this and this socialist newspaper, I did so and so..." would in Hardisian writings serve as an introduction to a political article.
Writers who do this have a lot of self-confidence, and because they have the courage to show themselves as whole beings, they cannot not use the first person singular. And because of this openness and courage, they appear somewhat fearless.
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