As I was writing my mid term paper, I realized I wanted to include more about the authors for each of my books, but ran out of room. This got me thinking about class discussions of the way the role of the author has changed. Lets compare Jane Austen to J.K. Rowling.
Austen died not as a well- known author. She was actually low on money and was only known by a few as the author of her published novels. She published anonymously because it would have been controversial for a woman to be an author and it would create a negative reputation for her and her family. Austen dedicated one of her novels to the Prince Regent for financial support in order to keep writing.
Based on how popular Austen is today, this clearly shows how the author was viewed differently. When did the artist become a genius? Before this concept, authors would publish works anonymously because of embarrassment. My how things have changed!
J.K. Rowling has become a celebrity because of her role as an author. The public wants to know about her life, not just her work. I think she has already become somewhat of a romanticized rags to riches story. The classic example of her writing Harry Potter on napkins in a coffee shop shows how powerful her author role took her. She now is (at least) a multi-millionaire who has to fight for her privacy from adoring fans.
Foucault writes in his essay, "Author Function" about the cultural tropes that arise around an author and how that influences their work, biographical life, and expectations.
Many people see Jane Austen as living the plot lines of her novels- she was an Elizabeth Bennet who found her Mr. Darcy. Readers directly connect her texts to her life, and most are shocked to learn she never married. Her novels have created such a romantic notion of her life and it becomes hard to disassociate this cultural brand from the name Austen.
J.K. Rowling recently came out with a new book that is completely independent of Harry Potter. There was much speculation about this new novel. Her role as an author is so wrapped up in Harry Potter, it is much harder for her to branch out. Our culture has developed this whole life of Harry around her, not only the books, but the movies and theme park as well.
Is this close association of the author to their most popular text a bad thing? It certainly influences the way we see them and what expectations we have from them.
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