Mario Vargas Llosa "Why Literature?"

I do not believe that media has diminished our desire and ability to enjoy literature. Media such as movies, audio recordings, etc... is just another way to take it in. The "meaning" being sent across from media is most likely going to be different than that from literature. This is because with literature it is more if the reader's interpretation of the text and how the reader imagines things to look or take place. But some people don't have good imaginations or don't like creating a picture for themselves, so they choose other avenues. Some people like both, books and movies are definitely different, but its all a matter of opinion.

What has diminished the desire and ability to enjoy literature is public schools. This is because the schools force literature upon students, if literature is to be enjoyed it should be done so at ones free will. This is not to say that all literature should be removed from schools because then illiteracy would develop. What should be done is first, grammar, context, and mechanics of writing should be well developed so students can write beautifully. This will also aid in understanding literature because then students could better absorb the meaning. Literature should then be delivered in a relatively neutral but vast array of styles. This way the student will develop a liking to certain kinds and be able to actually like it rather than being forced to learn it in a standardized manner.