Values And Norms In Bill Clinton's Short Stories

It can be said that in many cases, the job of the author is to reflect the values and norms of the society in which he or she lives. As we consider the new millennium, we see that much has changed in the way of societal norms including the aging of the baby boomers, and an increased awareness of religious, gender, and racial differences. Politically, citizens have become increasingly disenfranchised (Bill Clinton’s sexual escapades may have been one cause of this) and, America has positioned itself as a top world leader.

Another important advance (the internet) has resulted in an increased emphasis on globalization and this has brought with it a renewed focus upon climate change, industrial pollution, and disaster reporting. This new and changing world, the redefining of ourselves, our borders and our previous assumptions is reflected in the ambiguousness we observe in the literary world.

Some say the short story is disappearing, others claim it’s not.

Some believe that minimalism is alive and well, others find it to be abundant . Available platforms from which authors may share their stories are dwindling leaving writers floundering for a recognizable venue.

Finally, one is left to wonder if traditionally accepted methods of short story writing have evolved once more. If, as indicated at the beginning of this writing, the job of the author is to reflect the values and norms of the society in which he or she lives, one might find it reasonable to consider that the American Short Story may just find itself at the cutting edge of today’s electronic medium. Blogging, Face book, and other such online communications certainly lend themselves to the emergence of an evolved short story which is reflective of this dramatic change in our world and it seems logical that the short story will follow where the world leads as it continues to reflect the world around us

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