A few days ago, the brilliant team over at the Freakonomics podcast discussed what long-standing ideas need to be retired in a fun episode called, “This Idea Must Die.” They propose, with the help of a variety of experts, that certain ideas have outlived their usefulness, and we need to start tackling certain issues in ways that are not so beholden to traditional views. I particularly enjoy the opening chat with a cognitive psychologist regarding left/right brain theory, as well one professor’s refutation of an atheistic premise in scientific study at about the 20-minute mark of the podcast.
While much of the discussion is rooted in scientific matters, it got me thinking about outmoded ideas in the field of English. What are some concepts, rules, or arguments that just aren’t relevant or worthwhile anymore?
“Sentences shouldn’t end with a preposition.”—While doing so can weaken a sentence, sometimes that is actually the best way to go. To avoid a concluding preposition may lead to a sentence so convoluted, the entire meaning is obscured. Though it may be a good tip, let’s stop making it a hard and fast rule.
“Don’t start sentences with and.” As above, this may lead to a weak sentence construction, but it’s not necessarily wrong. Sometimes the sentence becomes more powerful when beginning with and. And I do it all the time! See, I just did it!
“Avoid the passive voice.”—Nonsense! Sometimes, the passive voice is the appropriate voice. Context usually dictates this, particularly when emphasis shifts from the speaker to the topic. Again, this idea is generally okay, but it’s not even close to being always true.
“Marxist literary criticism”--In literary criticism, most theoretical techniques need to go by the wayside as soon as possible. Marxist criticism, in particular, is one of the silliest and least informed of all reading methods. It is based on fundamentally flawed logic, absurd economic ideology, and inaccurate history. My personal research attempts to do away with this nonsense, but I could use much more help. Feminist, post-colonialist, and other binary-based theories also need to be placed on the chopping block. The world is infinitely more complicated than what these reductive theories allow. One a time, though.
Let’s expand the field of English in new and interesting ways and stop relying so prescriptively on outdated dogma. What ideas do you recommend for elimination?
While much of the discussion is rooted in scientific matters, it got me thinking about outmoded ideas in the field of English. What are some concepts, rules, or arguments that just aren’t relevant or worthwhile anymore?
“Sentences shouldn’t end with a preposition.”—While doing so can weaken a sentence, sometimes that is actually the best way to go. To avoid a concluding preposition may lead to a sentence so convoluted, the entire meaning is obscured. Though it may be a good tip, let’s stop making it a hard and fast rule.
“Don’t start sentences with and.” As above, this may lead to a weak sentence construction, but it’s not necessarily wrong. Sometimes the sentence becomes more powerful when beginning with and. And I do it all the time! See, I just did it!
“Avoid the passive voice.”—Nonsense! Sometimes, the passive voice is the appropriate voice. Context usually dictates this, particularly when emphasis shifts from the speaker to the topic. Again, this idea is generally okay, but it’s not even close to being always true.
“Marxist literary criticism”--In literary criticism, most theoretical techniques need to go by the wayside as soon as possible. Marxist criticism, in particular, is one of the silliest and least informed of all reading methods. It is based on fundamentally flawed logic, absurd economic ideology, and inaccurate history. My personal research attempts to do away with this nonsense, but I could use much more help. Feminist, post-colonialist, and other binary-based theories also need to be placed on the chopping block. The world is infinitely more complicated than what these reductive theories allow. One a time, though.
Let’s expand the field of English in new and interesting ways and stop relying so prescriptively on outdated dogma. What ideas do you recommend for elimination?