Reality Hunger: A Manifesto
Encyclopedia
Reality Hunger: A Manifesto is a book
by American writer David Shields
, published by Knopf on February 23, 2010. The book is written in a collage
style, mixing quotations by the author with those from a variety of other sources. The book’s manifesto
is directed toward increasing art’s engagement with the reality of contemporary life through the exploration of new, hybrid genres such as prose poetry
and literary collage. Overturning the stigma of artistic appropriation
and redefining the relationship between fiction
and nonfiction are also central themes.
The role of plagiarism in art also constitutes a major theme. Shields argues that plagiarism is something that artists have always partaken in, and that only recently has the act acquired the stigma it has, due in large part to copyright legislation and the culture surrounding it. Rather than shy away from wholesale appropriation, Shields encourages it, stating that “reality-based art hijacks its material and doesn’t apologize.”
Shields also discusses, at length, the distinction between memoir and fiction-a distinction that, Shields argues, is mostly imaginary. Because writers of fiction implement a great deal of material directly from their lives, and because writers of memoir must rely on memories that don’t necessarily reflect the truth of what occurred, it would seem absurd to hold the two different kinds of writer to such different standards. “Anything processed by memory is fiction,” Shields writes, indicating that anything written by a writer supposedly doing memoir has necessarily already been fictionalized; thus, determining whether certain events in the book actually happened or not is not the correct way in which to determine the book’s value. The scandal surrounding James Frey
’s A Million Little Pieces
figures largely in one chapter, as Shields argues that Frey’s mistake was not lying in his so-called memoir but apologizing about it afterwards. “I’m disappointed not that Frey is a liar but that he isn’t a better one,” Shields writes. “He should have said, ‘’Everyone who writes about himself is a liar. I created a person meaner, funnier, more filled with life than I could ever be’’. . . Instead, he showed up for his whipping.”
Shields also places great importance on working in and creating new artistic forms, emphasizing in particular that the boundaries of genre (which he refers to as a “minimum-security prison”) should constantly be bent and broken. An entire chapter is devoted to collage
(a genre or “antigenre” of which Reality Hunger itself is explicitly a member), which Shields praises as “an evolution beyond narrative” because it does not, he argues, reinforce false ideas about the world such as the inevitability of resolution that traditional narrative does: “Story seems to say that everything happens for a reason and I want to say, No, it doesn’t.”
tweeted that it ‘‘might be the most intense, thought-accelerating book of the last 10 years.” Luc Sante wrote in the New York Times Book Review that the book “urgently and succinctly addresses matters that have been in the air, have relentlessly gathered momentum, and have just been waiting for someone to link them together. . . . [Shields’s] book probably heralds what will be the dominant modes in years and decades to come.’’
The book also evoked a substantial amount of controversy, most of which centered around Shields’s claims about the death of the novel and his advocacy of artistic plagiarism. James Wood
was one of the book’s most prominent critics, describing it in his review in The New Yorker
as “highly problematic” in its “unexamined promotion of what he insists on calling ‘reality’ over narrative.”
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
by American writer David Shields
David Shields
David Shields is an American author of non-fiction, fiction, and works that resist generic classification. His latest book is Reality Hunger: A Manifesto...
, published by Knopf on February 23, 2010. The book is written in a collage
Collage
A collage is a work of formal art, primarily in the visual arts, made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole....
style, mixing quotations by the author with those from a variety of other sources. The book’s manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
is directed toward increasing art’s engagement with the reality of contemporary life through the exploration of new, hybrid genres such as prose poetry
Prose poetry
Prose poetry is poetry written in prose instead of using verse but preserving poetic qualities such as heightened imagery and emotional effects.-Characteristics:Prose poetry can be considered either primarily poetry or prose, or a separate genre altogether...
and literary collage. Overturning the stigma of artistic appropriation
Appropriation (art)
Appropriation is a fundamental aspect in the history of the arts . Appropriation can be understood as "the use of borrowed elements in the creation of a new work."...
and redefining the relationship between fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
and nonfiction are also central themes.
Structure
Reality Hunger consists of 618 numbered passages divided into twenty-six chapters. Approximately half of the book’s words come from sources other than the author. Attribution for the quotes is given in an appendix at the end of the book, but with the author’s encouragement to cut those pages from the book so as to preserve the book’s intended disorienting effect.Major themes
The title of Reality Hunger comes from Shields’s idea that people today, living in an increasingly fragmentary culture, are experiencing a growing “hunger” for doses of real life injected into the art they experience. According to his argument, traditional genres, such as realist fiction, are failing to adequately reflect lived reality because they have gone largely unchanged since their early development.The role of plagiarism in art also constitutes a major theme. Shields argues that plagiarism is something that artists have always partaken in, and that only recently has the act acquired the stigma it has, due in large part to copyright legislation and the culture surrounding it. Rather than shy away from wholesale appropriation, Shields encourages it, stating that “reality-based art hijacks its material and doesn’t apologize.”
Shields also discusses, at length, the distinction between memoir and fiction-a distinction that, Shields argues, is mostly imaginary. Because writers of fiction implement a great deal of material directly from their lives, and because writers of memoir must rely on memories that don’t necessarily reflect the truth of what occurred, it would seem absurd to hold the two different kinds of writer to such different standards. “Anything processed by memory is fiction,” Shields writes, indicating that anything written by a writer supposedly doing memoir has necessarily already been fictionalized; thus, determining whether certain events in the book actually happened or not is not the correct way in which to determine the book’s value. The scandal surrounding James Frey
James Frey
James Christopher Frey is an American writer. His books A Million Little Pieces and My Friend Leonard , as well as Bright Shiny Morning , were bestsellers...
’s A Million Little Pieces
A Million Little Pieces
A Million Little Pieces is a semi-fictional memoir by James Frey. It tells the story of a 23-year-old alcoholic and drug abuser and how he copes with rehabilitation in a Twelve steps-oriented treatment center...
figures largely in one chapter, as Shields argues that Frey’s mistake was not lying in his so-called memoir but apologizing about it afterwards. “I’m disappointed not that Frey is a liar but that he isn’t a better one,” Shields writes. “He should have said, ‘’Everyone who writes about himself is a liar. I created a person meaner, funnier, more filled with life than I could ever be’’. . . Instead, he showed up for his whipping.”
Shields also places great importance on working in and creating new artistic forms, emphasizing in particular that the boundaries of genre (which he refers to as a “minimum-security prison”) should constantly be bent and broken. An entire chapter is devoted to collage
Collage
A collage is a work of formal art, primarily in the visual arts, made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole....
(a genre or “antigenre” of which Reality Hunger itself is explicitly a member), which Shields praises as “an evolution beyond narrative” because it does not, he argues, reinforce false ideas about the world such as the inevitability of resolution that traditional narrative does: “Story seems to say that everything happens for a reason and I want to say, No, it doesn’t.”
Reception
Reviews of Reality Hunger were generally favorable. Shortly after its release, Chuck KlostermanChuck Klosterman
Charles John "Chuck" Klosterman is an American author and essayist who has written for The New York Times Magazine, The Believer, and The Washington Post, and has written books focusing on American popular culture....
tweeted that it ‘‘might be the most intense, thought-accelerating book of the last 10 years.” Luc Sante wrote in the New York Times Book Review that the book “urgently and succinctly addresses matters that have been in the air, have relentlessly gathered momentum, and have just been waiting for someone to link them together. . . . [Shields’s] book probably heralds what will be the dominant modes in years and decades to come.’’
The book also evoked a substantial amount of controversy, most of which centered around Shields’s claims about the death of the novel and his advocacy of artistic plagiarism. James Wood
James Wood (critic)
James Wood is a literary critic, essayist and novelist. he is Professor of the Practice of Literary Criticism at Harvard University and a staff writer at The New Yorker magazine.-Background and education:...
was one of the book’s most prominent critics, describing it in his review in The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
as “highly problematic” in its “unexamined promotion of what he insists on calling ‘reality’ over narrative.”