TOW #17- Nonfiction Piece- How to Stop 'Saving' the English Major

How to Stop 'Saving' the English Major, is an editorial written by Ryan Chapin Mach, a freelance writer and creative contributor for the Huffington Post. In the article he details the ongoing struggle between classic literature versus new wave books and their contemporary audience. Stating the position that the 'narcissism' apparently shown by the new generation of readers and books is present in the old classic novels. He does this best by using hypothera to challenge the way in which many editors and critics view the new wave of readers. Mach questions "Just because people are critiquing the classics, does that mean they've stopped consuming them? If you think that these works stand the test of time, why won't you let a new generation examine them on its own terms? It's probably because the new generation is too wrapped up in itself to think about them right." (6/7). By utilizing hypothera Mach is able to present the perceptive in the view of the critics and present the main reason for their dispute with the younger audience. Claiming that the new generation is too narcissistic to enjoy the classic novels which are praised by literary critics everywhere. He further discusses and answers these question by questioning the use of narcissism in the classic's argument. "I guess I'm just wondering at what point narcissism became an impediment to writing. Literary masters have a tendency towards self-importance because it seems to go well with attempting to capture the essence of the human condition" (9). By using hypothera, Mach is able to successfully and effectively capture how both the classics and the new wave novels show the vice of selfishness. Presenting a thought provoking piece on how the new and old generation of readers are not that different.