About the classics

This is more of an opinion question for people. Do you think if Poe, Hawthorne, Whitman, Dickinson, and some of the other great american writers had been alive today when they were writing they would be as popular. This extends to teh greats from England too like Dickens and Shakespeare. I personally think some would, but mainly the story tellers. I don't know that Dickinson and Whitman would be as popular. And here is my reason why. When these people started there wasn't a crowded market. There weren't a ton of other people tryin to make a living off of writing poems and stories. In America there was no distinct American Literature before Poe, Hawthorne, and the others. That made it easier for the m to become accepted because The United States as a young country was looking for a way to make its impression in the arts world. However, today not only are there more people trying to get published, but america is not fighting for to be noticed in the literary canon anymore. Also there are a hell of a lot more critics in the literary world, and they are damn harsh.I mean, James Fenimore Cooper is looked at as a great American writer by most standards, but his books aren't that great. Twain ripped him apart and for good reason, but he was one of the better story tellers for his time period. I don't think he would have been published today, or atleast definatley not remembered. Anyways, looking for opinions.

I agree with that some of the classics are good jpm, but not all. Like I said before, James Fenimore Cooper was nothing special. He just happened to be better than the others writing about the same thing during his time period. And some of the Classics you can't even find in the library anymore thanks to certain ignorant groups who think they are helping society like Joel Chandler Harris and the Uncle Remus tales.

That's fucking awesome. The Uncle Remus tales are fucking awesome. Ashame stupid fucks think for the majority about them.

hahah, very well said, and I agree with you entirely

Times do change, and perhaps these people would have done other things, not only poetry.