Bestsellers, reading habits and ideology

 Miguel-Angel Martínez-Cabeza, Granada (Spain)

 María-del-Carmen Espínola-Rosillo, Granada (Spain)

https://doi.org/10.3916/C27-2006-08

Keywords

Popular literature, bestseller lists, conspiracy, cultural studies

Abstract

Readers of bestsellers, books which sell over 100.000 copies in a short time, feel ashamed to acknowledge such wguilty pleasuresn in view of the general opinion against their poor literary quality. The equation between high number of readers and poor quality has not been solved but there is little doubt that the impact of bestsellers mirrors and afects the ways in which we envisage our present, past and future. Precisely this capacity of popular fiction to articulate contemporary issues calls for critica1 analysis. This paper tackles the issue from the penpective of popular fiction studies considering factors and issues involved in the success of bestselling fiction both in its production and consumption. Because of their international dimension, «The Da Vinci Code» and «Harry Potter» offer two unavoidable paradigms in adult and children fiction to be considered.

References

BLAKE, A. (2002): The irresistible rise of Harry Potter. Londres, Verso. (La irresistible ascensión de Harry Potter. Madrid, Edaf, 2005).

Link Google Scholar

BLOOM, H. (2000): «Can 35 million buyers be wrong? Yes», en Wall Street Journal; 11 julio; 26.

Link Google Scholar

BRAYFIELD, C. (1996): Bestseller. Secrets of successful writing. London, Fourth State.

Link Google Scholar

BROWN, D. (2003): The da Vinci Code. London, Corgy Books. (El código da Vinci. Barcelona, Urano).

Link Google Scholar

BROWNE, R.B. (1996): «Internationalizing popular culture», en The Journal of Popular Culture 30; 47-89.

Link Google Scholar

BYATT, A.S. (2003): «Harry Potter and the childish adult», en New York Times, 11 julio; 13.

Link Google Scholar

CARROLL, N. (1998): A philosophy of mass art. Oxford, O.U.P.

Link Google Scholar

CAWELTI, J.G. (1969): «The concept of formula in the study of popular literature», en Journal of Popular Culture, 3; 381-390.

Link Google Scholar

COLE, S. (2005): Paradigms of Paranoia. The culture of conspiracy in contemporary American fiction. Tuscaloosa, The University of Alabama Press.

Link Google Scholar

HARRINGTON, C.L & BIELBY, D.D. (2001): «Constructing the popular: cultural production and consumption», en HARRINGTON & BIELBY (Eds.): Popular culture. Production & consumption. Oxford, Blackwells; 1-15.

Link Google Scholar

HENDER, P. (2003): «A crowd pleaser but no classic», en The Spectator, 30; 12 julio.

Link Google Scholar

INTROVIGNE, M. (2005): Los Illuminati y el Priorato de Sión. Madrid, Rialp.

Link Google Scholar

NEL, P. (2005): «Is there a text in this advertising campaign? Literature, marketing, and Harry Potter», en The Lion and the Unicorn, 29; 236-67.

Link Google Scholar

Fundref

This work has no financial support

Crossmark

Technical information

Metrics

Metrics of this article

Views: 22822

Abstract readings: 18971

PDF downloads: 3851

Full metrics of Comunicar 27

Views: 913430

Abstract readings: 780485

PDF downloads: 132945

Cited by