“When more voices are heard in literature, when women, for instance, tell their stories too, the arc of history bends more towards justice.” Literature may not immediately change the course of history, but it definitely influences the public’s beliefs, which directly affects how the public acts. Marion Turner cites the portrayal of historically less privileged groups in literature; for example, if women are portrayed negatively and if antifeminist literature is abundant, some men may ultimately beat their wives after becoming enraged by the acts of fictional women. Read full article here
Oddities
Why Do Modern Pop Songs Have So Many Credited Writers?
The music industry has changed dramatically over the last few decades – with the number of songwriters credited on number one hits more than doubling. This is due to a combination of factors, including money, the computer and a changing definition of what songwriting is. For example, if The Beatles’ classic “I Feel Fine” was released today, it would likely have four writers credited instead of two, due to the influence of producers, samples and interpolations. With the rise of lawsuits, artists now preemptively add songwriter credits to their songs, even if the similarities between their song and the source material are coincidental. It all goes to show that the music industry is becoming more complex and competitive. Read full article here
Merv
March 29, 2023
