JD Salinger, Lessons in Creativity & Innovation
January 30, 2010 – 1:50 pm
I feel compelled to write something about J.D. Salinger.
I loved his work and read all of it, which sadly for fans such as I, wasn’t really that much. Beyond Catcher in the Rye, there was Franny and Zooey, Nine Stories, and Raise High the Roombeam Carpenters, and Seymour an Introduction. This is his body of work. And, what incredible work. These stories are gifts, they are some of the richest, most colorful, romantic, accessible, entertaining, and multi-layered fiction written in the last 100 years.
For me personally it was an introduction to writing as an art form, but also to the world beyond my provincial Cincinnati. It was a glimpse into Oz-like New York, into genius, insanity, fantasy, humor, and authenticity. Salinger was an innovator, a legendary and true Creative — with a capital C — advancing his art form in new, different, and valuable ways. His influence on writers and artists of all kind has been resonating for generations, and it will continue.
Catcher in the Rye was quite compelling to me personally (I read it at age 10). I’d never read anything like it. It was laugh out loud funny, there was fluent use of profanity, and it was insightful about people. It was beyond entertaining, it was a life changing experience. How? Well, for one I fantasized playing the role of Holden in a movie. No matter that Salinger was clearly not a movie fan (although Holden Caulfield sounds vaguely like an amalgam of Hollywood actor names) and would never sell the rights for that purpose. For a couple years I was physically and emotionally perfect for the part, or so I thought. I adopted Holden’s language and mannerisms in preparation for my role. I too became a “terrific liar”, I despised phonies, and yes, I had a red hunting hat. This was all my little secret of course. As I grew out of the age group I had a real and deep sense of regret that I was missing my big chance. When I got into the media in college the fantasy switched to Directing the Movie. It took me about 10 years more to grow out of that one. If I’m perfectly honest with myself, well, maybe not completely.
Such is the power of fiction to enter one’s mind and thinking in ways that make the word profound seem like an understatement. One book had me reading more, researching, learning the basics of acting, writing my own fiction, thinking of how to direct a film. One book. Creativity & Innovation lesson to be learned? Do not underestimate the power of a well told story. Second lesson, to innovate in your field, know the rules, and then break them with purpose and elegance. His use of the first person voice is a great example of elegant rule breaking.
My deep interest in Salinger had me, in the pre-Intenet 1970’s, going to the Univ. of Cincinnati campus library and searching through micro films of back issues of The New Yorker for those few small bits of fiction (specifically, Hapworth 26, 1924) he published exclusively in that magazine. Finding those little gems was a first step for me into real research and scholarship. In the early 90’s when CompuServe had a fiction bulletin board, I followed a Salinger thread and to my surprise somebody alluded to having copies of his personal letters. I wrote a few emails and a couple weeks later I was sent an electronic file of letters and notes he’d written while serving in Germany post WWII, letters to girl friends, to his family, etc. Somebody had accessed the archive of personal files he’d sold to the University of Texas and hand copied them. The letters were so intimate that I felt like I’d invaded his privacy. It must have been karma when that laptop was stolen just a few weeks later.
Much has been said and written about his private life. Some of the accusations are pretty sad. He was a recluse and I believe part of why that happened is his reaction to criticism (another lesson there; ignore criticism!). While I don’t condone some of his life decisions, I won’t condemn J.D. Salinger, I will only celebrate his achievements. He gave millions of people a great deal of intellectual pleasure and stimulation, and he advanced the art of writing in a significant and meaningful way.
I’m hoping like hell he left us a stack of things to read! It would be just like the bastard to hide a couple more novels under his goddam bed.
Rest in peace old friend, I hope eternity is a never ending, serene and waving, field of blissful rye.
