pulp fiction

Correctly defined, pulp fiction was a body of short fiction published on "pulp" (low grade) paper predominately by unknown writers. Plots were simplistic, characterizations two-dimensional, settings (even "realistic" ones) fantasized, but most of all, writing style was about 4th grade reading level, exaggerated, and totally avoided anything that might be considered actual theme, i.e., delving beneath the obvious or thoughtfulness). Original pulp fiction did cling to a "righting wrongs" framework, with Good prevailing over Evil; always the "happy ending." The term is still applicable today to describe that KIND of writing: with the added modern elements of extremely gory detail and pornography for the masses. The "Romance" genre is typical, with te word "Romance" defined by publishers NOT as a love story, but instead, detailed human copulation scenes, inferred as a "love" story (rather than simply the lust it actually presents).

In the early 1900s, "Phantom of the Opera" was an example of pulp fiction... the "10-penny dreadful." Louis L'Armour's westerns were another sample, soon augmented by early detective and superhero stories which developed into the comic book in the '30s and 40s. Horror stories proliferated. In early pulp, the love interest was minimized, and it was only in the late 20th century that explicit sexual scenes were included. Today, with few exceptions, the romance novels, whether historical or contemporary, the detective novels, and the feminist protagonists creating a characterization of Little Men (not in the Louisa May Alcott mode) are all examples of modern pulp. The term, "pulp fiction," has always literally defined inferior writing competence. That hasn't changed although it undeniably is also a venue for new writers struggling to get published, a few of whom do develop into well above average craftspersons.

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