When in December of 2018, The New Yorker published a short story, "Cat Person," by Kristen Roupenian, the Internet had something to say. For one, she was a relatively unknown writer and here she was, appearing in this venerable magazine, known for publishing only the very best writers. For another, her story went viral on social media. In fact, I first saw it, and clicked on it, when it appeared on my Twitter. Because the fictional story is written in first person, many readers who came across it on their news feeds, took it to be an essay, a literal true account.
Some men, in particular, took offense at Roupenian's characterization of the story's male protagonist. They #notallmen-ed all over the place. Men, and women, it seemed, all had an opinion on the female character's character. This article in AV Club, claimed that "'Cat Person' is not an argument. No short story is." The Guardian, however, makes the point that the story "raises questions about the nature of fiction, and how women writers are often considered as mere recorders of human experience rather than gifted the creative imaginations to invent whole literary worlds, as men so often are – many readers have responded to the story as though it were a personal essay, not a work of fiction." Whether the story was fiction or nonfiction, many readers found an argument, something that resonated with them. Now here it is, this story, in an anthology that claims that it includes the Best American Nonrequired Reading of 2018. After reading it for yourself, what are your thoughts? Is this a story that could only be written in these #MeToo times? Does Rouperian capture a universal experience of being a young woman? How does the fact that the story is fiction impact your reaction to it? Would your feelings be different if the story was true? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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About this blogA blog is an online conversation. This one is for students of writing and is an extension of our face-to-face classroom. Here is where we can continue a discussion started in class, ask questions, and test new ideas. Archives
March 2020
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