cheap philosophical conundrum

[rone]

A book is written and labeled as non-fiction; soon thereafter, it is provable that the book is heavily fictional.  Does the story change?  Does the reader?

Comments

How Invested In The Story, IS the question

[drieuxster.livejournal.com]

If the story was something that offered a significant change in your life, based upon your belief that this was a 'true story', then the real question is whether or not that change in your life will be unhinged by the reality.

The classic illustrations are Scientology and "Biblical Literalists". The somewhat more amusing group were the folks who were all into 'The teachings of don Juan, a yanqui way of knowledge' - and did so because it had at one time been a doctorial thesis, and hence was Suppose to be Factual.

The other Classic is "Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas" - james keeps trying to sell me that this was a work of fiction. But I Mean, Get Real! HST was a Journalist! He was not a Novelist. I mean next, they are going to tell me that there is no Shire, there is no Frodo???

So the 'this is history' portion rests ultimately on how one deals with 'folklore' as a knowledge system - and whether the needs for 'historically accurate' are the full on driver. If you read and believe, and the tale offered value, it offered value whether or not it is 'factual'.