"As critical acclaim and response has built up, every interview I give is a chance to puncture the myth I've created about my work and refine it"
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In this quote, James Ellroy reviews the developing nature of his relationship with the general public's understanding of his work. Initially, he acknowledges that as his work gathers critical honor and audience approval, a type of folklore or narrative around his productions naturally kinds. This mythologizing can happen as critics and fans distill and magnify certain styles, styles, or aspects of his writing, possibly raising it to a renowned status.
Ellroy appears to embrace interviews as a dynamic platform to address and often challenge this growing misconception. By recommending each interview is a chance to "puncture the misconception", he indicates a desire to deconstruct or debunk the narratives that others have constructed around his work. This act of piercing may serve several purposes: it can avoid the misconception from becoming monolithic or reductive, ensuring that his work remains friendly and based on re-interpretation. It may likewise reflect his intent to stay genuine and grounded, resisting the temptation to become overly defined by his previous successes or by external analyses.
Additionally, Ellroy alludes to the principle of improvement. He views interviews not just as chances to break down these misconceptions, but likewise as moments to much better specify and articulate his own understanding of his work. The procedure of publicly going over and defending his literary choices enables him to additional refine his ideas, causing a deeper clearness about his creative intentions. This refining act can enrich his future tasks, motivating his work to develop naturally rather than stay static under the weight of previous understandings.
Overall, Ellroy's perspective reveals a nuanced understanding of the interaction in between public understanding, individuality, and the continuous evolution of an artist's body of work. By engaging in this cycle of myth-making and myth-puncturing, he actively forms not only his tradition but also his development as a writer.
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