Progress

In literature there is no “progress”, no “moving forward”, no real “avant-garde” except in the ephemeral details of form or fashionable focus. Yet over the years, book reviews have abounded with metaphors of forward motion: “ahead of its time”, “taking risks”, “pushing back the boundaries”, “travelling unfamiliar territory”. The same basic human concerns were addressed in the art in ancient Greece as today. While the particulars of form and subject may change, the essence of art remains. As for the pioneer/explorer metaphor, where we need to “break new ground” is not outward but inward—avoiding superficiality and fad to discover what has value to share.