Have you read Diana Wynne Jone’s essay in Shetterly’s Medusa about why she prefers to write for young people? (Link here,if you have not: http://www.suberic.net/dwj/medusa.html)

I think she’s on to something, myself, and there is a (general) difference. Though (of course) ndividual titles may vary, as individuals so often, do.

emily

That is no coincidence.

As for the actual substance of the post, I think people crave order, and order is easier with generalizations. So, I think people who are less concerned about the reality or depth of any subject will tend toward generalizations, especially if those generalizations make them feel superior to others. (for example, I am so cool and enlightened because I recognize the value of YA literature and so I embrace and extol its virtues; or the flip side, I am so morally superior that I recognoze that all of these YA books are filth masquerading as literature, designed to corrupt young minds…) You get the picture.

It’s easier to have a morally superior position if you gloss over the subtleties that might disprove your premise and go for the generalization.

Emily

Maureen Johnson said this. This is sooooooooooooooooooooooooo true!

Then again, any time a seller of something tries to reach potential buyers by identifying (or creating) a market niche, subcultures have a tendency to evolve. Think: organic food, farmer’s markets, indy rock, apple computers. All of these things are essentially subcultures which evolved out of marketing categories. Am I overthinking this? Maybe I should get a job.

I even catch myself doing it sometimes. The other day my five-year-old hated me because she disapproved of her hairdo, and as I was cheerfully explaining to her that everybody feels that way sometimes, in my head I was thinking, I bet mums of five-year-old boys don’t have this problem!!

~Mary