History of the American Short Story
Development In Britain, newspapers serialized novels In America, newspapers could not serialize novels because… In Britain, newspapers serialized novels In America, newspapers could not serialize novels because…
Development city populations were unstable workers moved from city to city advertising space was worthless next to a chapter from a novel no one would stay in town long enough to read city populations were unstable workers moved from city to city advertising space was worthless next to a chapter from a novel no one would stay in town long enough to read
Development Without the ability to publish novels in chapters in newspapers, writers in America borrowed and adapted the short story form from German authors such as Wilhelm Kleist and E.T.A. Hoffmann.
Literary Form Short Story was to literature what pop music is to music were commercial products written for newspapers and magazines by writers trying to make a living there were of course exceptions, but in general the short story was similar to a sit- com or hour-long drama on the television Short Story was to literature what pop music is to music were commercial products written for newspapers and magazines by writers trying to make a living there were of course exceptions, but in general the short story was similar to a sit- com or hour-long drama on the television
1871 William Dean Howells became editor of “The Atlantic Monthly” Short stories split into two categories only to make money as a true literary art form (albeit one that pays real money!) William Dean Howells became editor of “The Atlantic Monthly” Short stories split into two categories only to make money as a true literary art form (albeit one that pays real money!)
Money Jack London was once contracted to write a story a month for “Cosmopolitan” magazine at $1,000 a story that is similar to $250,000 in today’s money - the same amount as selling film rights to Hollywood. Jack London was once contracted to write a story a month for “Cosmopolitan” magazine at $1,000 a story that is similar to $250,000 in today’s money - the same amount as selling film rights to Hollywood.
Why do it? When an author needed cash to support their novel-in-progress, they would write a short story and live off the earnings
Quality short stories written only for money are not of the same quality as the novels written by the same authors compare the difficulty level of stories and novels of Henry James and William Faulkner short stories written only for money are not of the same quality as the novels written by the same authors compare the difficulty level of stories and novels of Henry James and William Faulkner
What happened? Why did short stories not continue on in their popularity?
What changed? rise of film changed the status of the short story similar to how photography changed the status of painting rise of film changed the status of the short story similar to how photography changed the status of painting
Rise of film It took a while for the short story to fall out of use not everyone had a movie theater nearby Today we have access to movies and tv all the time short stories have become artifacts of the past and just a curiosity It took a while for the short story to fall out of use not everyone had a movie theater nearby Today we have access to movies and tv all the time short stories have become artifacts of the past and just a curiosity
Adapting when photography interfered with painting, painters responded by painting in a way that was not realistic but rather more abstract
Adapting The short story has done the same thing the short story today is responding to film by attempting to be fiction that is unfilmable no longer a popular narrative medium, like poetry it is out of the public eye The short story has done the same thing the short story today is responding to film by attempting to be fiction that is unfilmable no longer a popular narrative medium, like poetry it is out of the public eye
Where are they published? Now there are very few places for publishing short stories in America The Atlantic Playboy The New Yorker Esquirer Now there are very few places for publishing short stories in America The Atlantic Playboy The New Yorker Esquirer
Pay? The pay for short stories now is a few hundred dollars at best usually they are published for free The pay for short stories now is a few hundred dollars at best usually they are published for free
Art unpaid unread short story writers are free to create without fear of bad reviews or low pay… short stories today do not resemble novels… they have entered the arena of “obscure art” unpaid unread short story writers are free to create without fear of bad reviews or low pay… short stories today do not resemble novels… they have entered the arena of “obscure art”
Unique Development The American short story has NOT developed in the same way as the American novel -which is still a popular and thriving medium
Unique Development The American short story as a popular form is extinct The American novel is favored over short stories The American short story is fiction, but is not the same as a novel The American short story as a popular form is extinct The American novel is favored over short stories The American short story is fiction, but is not the same as a novel
Final word Even though it has less prestige than the novel…. it is nonetheless as worthy an art form as the Novel Even though it has less prestige than the novel…. it is nonetheless as worthy an art form as the Novel