Novelists in the Public Sphere

When asked to consider modern public intellectuals that I find particularly interesting or influential, the ones that immediately come to mind are ones whose work I enjoy following. My area of interest is literature and writers, so I thought of authors whose novels served as perceptive, poignant, and sometimes satirical social commentaries. Fairly recent examples of such authors, in my opinion, are Kurt Vonnegut and David Foster Wallace. Although these men are no longer with us, their works conveyed thought-provoking commentary through intriguing plots, relatable characters, and satirical scenes. The reason I think these men - these types of authors - can be influential is that they are distributing their keen social and political observations in a form that is enjoyable to the average citizen; the individuals who read these novels are analyzing heavy topics and loving every minute of it. Not only this, but the scenes and characters portrayed in novels are easily understandable examples of social commentary to anyone who might be bored with (or have difficulty understanding) more academic articles and speeches.

Not only are novels effective in shaping the society that they are written in and for, but also in future societies. English classes throughout the country still study and analyze novels from decades and even centuries ago, encouraging students to apply their themes to modern society. Enduring novels have the potential to produce change within individuals and societies for years, which gives authors the ability to be fairly influential intellectuals.

One slightly lesser known intellectual I would like to point out is Chris Ware, a cartoonist turned graphic novelist whose graphic novel Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth became the first of its kind to win The Guardian's First Book Award. Ware, a talented artist, has a keen eye for family dynamics and shows it in the depiction of young Jimmy Corrigan and his father. Political cartoons have long been sources of social commentary, but Ware has taken the form to another level.

 Here is an example of his more recent work:

Graphic novels are growing in popularity, and I would place Ware on the same level as other socially observant intellectuals. I encourage everyone to take a look at his work.