Though we suspect we could find one or two people who disagree with Kevin Smokler’s assertion that flagellation is not cool, we have to agree that his sentiment is well-taken. And not only because he agrees with us (always a bonus, but not required). Those who fear the death of the novel are likely those who feel a bit too comfortable in their caves. These are the authors who might want to look outside their comfort zones:
Miles Davis was perhaps the greatest musician of the 20th century. Not once did he complain that jazz was in peril, nor did he ever blame contemporary culture from shifting their interest away from him. At the end of his life, he was making music with Big Daddy Kane, Public Enemy and many other hip hop artists his contemporaries were cursing for killing the spirit of jazz.
