I just finished reading an article entitled “The Problem with Memoirs” by Neil Genzlinger and it has inspired me to begin my efforts to ameliorate a very serious current problem. Neil explains that in today’s society most people consider their essentially mundane lives to be unique, special, and worthy of broadcasting to the world. He is bothered by the glut of recently published memoirs that drown out the few that were written by people whose lives really have been extraordinary. The underlying problem, however, is really much larger and it is something I think I will need to work on piecemeal all week. But we will start by solving Neil’s issue.
When it comes to biographical works, whether they are in literature or film it makes sense to at least have the full story. In other words, you shouldn’t write a book about your life when you are in your thirties and there shouldn’t be a biographical movie about a sixteen-year-old pop star. Writing a memoir is something you are supposed to do towards the end of your life when you can sit back a fully reflect. If you are simply trying to use part of your life story to boost your current prospects then use a different medium. Hey, you could always write a blog. If that’s good enough for your Queen it should be good enough for you too. So let’s restrict biographical books and movies to the truly extraordinary and perhaps we can resurrect the respectability of the genre.
Producers and publishers should be much more restrictive on what they decide to produce or publish in the genre of biography.
My goal this week is to make you feel less special, but don’t take that the wrong way. In the end, I think we will all end up much happier.
As always I remain your all-powerful and benevolent Queen of the World,
Marisa
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