"I didn't want to write a biographie romancee especially since I already write novels, nor did I want to challenge the rules of the biography game, arbitrary as those rules might be"
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Edmund White's declaration about not wanting to write a "biographie romancee" while likewise refraining from challenging the "guidelines of the biography video game" highlights a thoughtful technique to the complex interplay between fact and fiction in literary kinds. When White discusses preventing a "biographie romancee", he is revealing a conscious choice to stay away from a genre that mixes bio with fictional components to create a more engaging or dramatized narrative. This option shows White's regard for preserving clarity in between the fictional liberties frequently welcomed in books and the accurate integrity expected in biographical work.
White notes that he already writes novels, indicating his comfort and efficiency within the realm of fiction where imagination and imagination reign supreme. This recognized identity as an author may contribute to his unwillingness to blur the borders in between fiction and non-fiction even more, as doing so could not just dilute the reality but also muddle the reader's perception of both categories.
Furthermore, by acknowledging the "arbitrary" nature of the "guidelines of the bio video game", White reveals an awareness of the constructed and frequently subjective nature of biographical conventions. In spite of recognizing that these conventions may be arbitrary, he selects not to contest them. This choice recommends a gratitude for the distinctiveness of biography as a kind that respects and protects historical and accurate precision over narrative decoration.
White's position implies a commitment to genre stability. He respects each literary kind's worth by keeping clear differences in between them, ensuring that readers understand what to expect when they engage with his work. His stance also suggests a wider commentary on the obligation of writers to uphold the fundamental principles of the genres in which they select to write, acknowledging the reader's rely on the authenticity of such works.
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