Slog - Comments on Gentian Violet, Ringworm, Aquaflavine Emulsion, Lead Lotion

Comment by In my opinion

In my opinion — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 14:28:12 -0800

Dylan must have picked up a case of McEwan-itis while "writing" the lyrics for Modern Times.

Comment by Monique

Monique — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 14:57:21 -0800

Men marginalizing women, and then stealing their ideas? That has never happened before.....wait...wait...oh yeah, it happens ALL THE TIME.

I hope he pays for being so blatant.

Comment by orson

orson — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:07:23 -0800

Remember that there's really nothing new under the sun in the arts. Even the most inventive of artists are standing on the shoulders of others. If their ego doesn't let them admit it, well, what else is new.

One contemporary architect put it this way: Mediocre design "borrows" its ideas; good design "steals" its ideas. Perhaps McEwan.did a bit of both in his book. The identical phrasing was clearly borrowed. But it sounds like he might have stolen Andrews' art and put it to his own good use.

Comment by Gomez

Gomez — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 18:08:18 -0800

Who fucking cares? The ganked sentence is not going to make him ten million dollars. People should get over their pretentious selves.

What about the rest of the book? Let's judge that before judging the OMG SENTENCE HE TOOK FROM A PULP WRITER.

I'm gonna write a novel and quote Shakespeare in a paragraph. Hate me, Critics. Daddy needs some anti-love.

Comment by Gabriel

Gabriel — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 07:00:59 -0800

McEwan wrote a defense in The Guardian yesterday. It seems pretty clear that he merely used the book as a legimately cited information source.

Comment by elswinger

elswinger — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 14:58:35 -0800

What's wrong with being a pulp writer? Some of the greatest fiction started out as pulps.