A Different Approach to Literature

            In Franco Moretti's article, “Graphs, Maps, Trees”, he uses a different approach to literature wherein he uses a lot of graphs and charts to show data about the history of literature and different kinds of genres during different periods of time in able to support his argument.

            There are several benefits and draw backs in Moretti's kind of approach to literature.  One of the benefits is that he is able to show the reader that he is able to support his arguments with a lot of data, making it credible.  At the same time, the visual graphs and charts make it easier for some people to understand what he is trying to say instead of listing everything with words which might even make it really boring.  Some of the draw backs however is that it seems like he is just listing some data he was able to gather.  It also ruins the flow of words and ideas by inserting graphs or charts in between his argument which some readers might find inconvenient. 

            The method of combining literature with computer tools might be better with presenting scientific data for other fields such as social, biological, and physical sciences.  This is because it would be hard for a scientist to support his or her theories or arguments without the use of computer tools such as graphs and charts.  On the other hand, I believe it is better to not use graphs, charts, and other computer tools in English literature.

            A different way to approach SSTLS other than the close reading analysis we have been doing is that we can try to look at the reason why Shteyngart wrote the book.  We could think about whether he wrote this novel in able to alarm people on what could happen to us in the future or what is starting to happen to us in this modern day society.  We could also try to compare and contrast SSTLS with other literary works of this century and how are they similar and different from each other.