I seem to find myself 100% in agreement with Kathryn Anderson on Literary Criticism. I've done it to pass English classes; take the idea and interpret the story in terms of it. It's an interesting game or exercise, but when one deliberately attemtps to read something in to a story, one is finding what one seeks. I've just thought about some of the books I've intended to write in terms of how they'd be analyized by someone who wanted to make a point or pass an essay, and I'm horrified. In telling a story of male bonding and coming of age, I could be labelled a mysogynist. In writing a story about a twin brother and sister's seperate journeys to break the Evil Overlord's hold on their family, I may be tapping the Jungian idea of anima/animus (which is fine by me, I do like the idea) or I haven't (Fruedian) resolved my attraction to my own brother. Ick. Why should someone who doesn't know me pass judgement on my family life. Another story, a love story is set partly back in in medival England and partly in modern day. Christianity is therefore referenced in the story, but if one were to start analyzing it in Christian terms, well, I'm not Christian and if someone wants to compare the girl to the Virgin Mary it's somethinghappening in their head, definitely not mine. As an author, I think my intent ought to count for something-- not that there aren't points to the theoretical critiquess mentioned above. If I get back to the coming of age story, I may need to add a better female character (what am I thinking now? I was going to add the Susan Calvinish figure in just another few chapters).

*sigh* It's hard enough to write a story without wondering what a critic will turn it into.