Because the criteria of optimality change over time. If civilization ever becomes so static (or so cyclic) that I agree with people 50 years ago about what makes for a good story, then you can stop writing new fiction. As is, there certainly are some old works that were so good for their own time that they’re still worth reading now, despite the differences in values. But I can’t fail to notice those differences, and they do detract from my enjoyment unless I’m specifically in the mood for something alien.
As is, there certainly are some old works that were so good for their own time that they’re still worth reading now, despite the differences in values.
If the criteria are always changing & devaluing old works, why do we read things like Gilgamesh or the Iliad or Odyssey? Did they have nigh-infinite value, that they could survive 3k+ years?
Because the criteria of optimality change over time. If civilization ever becomes so static (or so cyclic) that I agree with people 50 years ago about what makes for a good story, then you can stop writing new fiction. As is, there certainly are some old works that were so good for their own time that they’re still worth reading now, despite the differences in values. But I can’t fail to notice those differences, and they do detract from my enjoyment unless I’m specifically in the mood for something alien.
If the criteria are always changing & devaluing old works, why do we read things like Gilgamesh or the Iliad or Odyssey? Did they have nigh-infinite value, that they could survive 3k+ years?
As far as I can tell this is just the “spirit of the times” point restated by people who can’t be bothered to read our long-winded exchange.