by Ava Devaud ’26
“Literary citizenship calls on our acts of giving, of giving back to the ecosystem so that we may actively ensure its sustainability.” – Lori May
When I think about SLAB, I connect it with that definition of literary citizenship. Considering what SLAB aims to achieve, its goals, and accomplishments, it aligns with the idea of that definition of literary citizenship. SLAB is a part of CLA, which, in turn, is part of the Cornell community. You could view it as being part of a broader ecosystem. Our successes and setbacks represent the college, and we also stand for the student body by addressing their interests and creating conversations. We attempted this at our event on the OC in Thomas Commons, asking students to join us in being literary citizens but also to open their minds to different kinds of literature and ways of appreciating it.
“It’s just that in all this talk about what makes a good Literary Citizen, it seems we have missed a key step: critical reflection. Isn’t it important to ask why things are the way they are? The notion that the system ought to be challenged, that there is even a system within which all this is operating, is notably absent from discussions about being a good Literary Citizen.” – Becky Tuch
When I consider how I contribute to literary citizenship, I reflect on this definition. Critical thinking is a big part of life, and it’s also integral to literature because literature mirrors life in various genres and forms. Although literature is often seen as open to interpretation, we can’t ignore certain interpretations or opinions. Literature isn’t always soothing; sometimes, it can be harmful and expository. In those moments, we need to pause and ask ourselves: Are we being good literary citizens? Are we being human right now? Just because it’s a “story” doesn’t mean it’s exempt from responsibility for how it portrays certain issues or people. Sometimes, we miss this responsibility when engaging as literary citizens, and we need to do better. We should critically and honestly assess both past and current works instead of hiding behind interpretations or telling ourselves, “it was just a story.”
This definition reminded me of SLAB’s literature appreciation events. During these gatherings, we select a book, a genre, or an author to acknowledge. We go into discussions about the work, its significance, and share our enjoyment of it. For example, this upcoming spring we hope to have a romance event, to appreciate the genre of romance, because as of lately, it’s become increasingly popular, but it’s often looked down upon as being less “academic”. Many authors write romance books, but some use themes that are inappropriate and deserve criticism from our literary community. On the other hand, there are fantastic romance authors who promote healthy and appropriate love without relying on taboo topics like race or homophobia in their stories. This goes to show we can both appreciate and be critical of the works we read as literary citizens.
Read more about literary citizenship here