week 4 questions (Jeremy)

[displayname]

Literary-nonfiction - a style of literature which incorporates real events and people but adds a certain literary "flair" in order to appeal emotionally to its audience, and is considered the most harmless form of yellow journalism.

In cold blood differs from "straight" crime journalism in that it wants its audience to create emotional attachments to its characters. Whereas real crime journalism focuses facts and events, Capote downplays these, and favors instead telling the audience how characters feel, and how the world itself is reacting the events unfolding within it.

Because if Truman Capote just went out and said "hey, I think there's something wrong with the system" many people would jump up and yell "At least the system provides a solution!" And would then proceed to act like Truman Capote invented the problem by bringing it up.

Reader thinks to self,"why was this necessary?" and then remembers the reason stated above.

[kevonohanlon]

Jeremy, because normal crime reporting is so factual and lacks any trace bias, Capote's style of writing is so unique, while it also seemingly strays away from factually supported evidence. I don't think that Capote "downplays" factual evidence and real scenarios, as he IS writing non-fiction, but he just simply gives his opinion as an author and reporter through the use of "literary 'flair'" as you said. There's a difference. For example, in a case report that is prepared by the courts to be used in the hearing, there would never be foreshadowing that creates suspense, as Capote uses at the end of each chapter. Because of THAT, he can portray his voice as an author and allow the reader to see his claim on the subject matter.