An interesting quote

All-
Just read this in Out of Our Minds:

Producing works of art often doesn't count as appropriate intellectual work in an arts department: yet the equivalent in a science department, doing physics or chemistry does. So why is it that in universities writing about novels is thought to be a higher intellectual calling than writing novels; or rather if writing novels is not thought to be intellectually valid why is writing about them (66)

Not that I think we should have students in English classes focues solely on writing novels, but it does make a good point for a variety of written work to be assigned in any classroom, especially if the author is then required to reflect on his/her work and explain what elements of the craft of writing they intentionally utilized. It also makes the case for the intellectual vaildity of creatve writing classes.

Josh