Simon Dentith

Review of Western literature and poetry, arguing that parody can be seen as central to the history of the novel and indeed all dominant forms, because parody both identifies the prior genres to be attacked by present authors and polices the appropriate boundaries of a form. Parody, he suggests, should be defined broadly, shading imperceptibly into burlesque, satire, etc.; parody is not always critical, and paradoxically it tends to preserve that which it attacks, so a parody of melodrama is often melodramatic. Actually his argument reminded me a lot of some critical theories of fanfic: can be but need not be transgressive; must be understood in social context; etc.… (altro)