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Brian_egeston
First Time Poster
Username: Brian_egeston
Post Number: 1
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 02:18 pm: | 
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Last night, while sloshing through The Ecstatic by Victor LaValle. I heard an advertisement on television. (My wife is addicted to the 11:00pm Good Times repeatS on TV One, I swear.)
The commercial began like this:
*DRAMATIC & SOMEWHAT FUNKY MUSIC*
*BOOMING VOICE OVER*
“E. Lynn Harris is THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BLACK MALE AUTHOR OF ALL TIME…”
Is this true? Would this be based on books sold or revenue generated?
There was a similar discussion about this some time ago if I recall correctly.
Brian Egeston |
Chrishayden
Regular Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 48
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 04:06 pm: |
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Brian:
I would equate that with claims of toothpaste to make one's teeth whiter than white, or that a bowl of Apple Jacks keeps the bullies away-- ie Da Hype.
What would you expect a commercial to say--E. Lynn Harris' books are mildly diverting. OK. Better than being stuck in the eye with a sharp stick--- |
Bimsha
Newbie Poster
Username: Bimsha
Post Number: 5
Registered: 02-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 02:50 am: |
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Brian - I think it's books sold as well as revenue (which only makes sense and yes, cents ---lots and lots of cents!)
And he may very well be the most successful black male author of all time -- well at least so far. |
Chrishayden
Regular Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 50
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 11:20 am: |
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Re copies sold what about Donald Goines and Iceberg Slim?
Re a single copies how about Alex Haley? |
Thumper
Veteran Poster
Username: Thumper
Post Number: 56
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 04:55 am: |
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Hello All,
Brian: It could be just plain ol' publicity. In all fairness, Harris very well could be the bestselling black male author of all times--so far. I can't deny him that. But "successful"...I guess it all depends on what they meant by successful; number of books sold--could be, literary meerit--not a snowball chance of living a long and healthy life in hell. |
Troy
Regular Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 48
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 02:52 pm: |
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I just popped in a sec to delete the contest post and I saw a post with E. Lynn and Ali in the same title and the potential for a connection intrigued me.
This is another interesting topic. I know of a popular bookstore owner who one day decided to say; they had the biggest AA Bookstore in the country -- and it stuck. It did not matter if the statement was true or not. It stuck, and the person subsequently became an authority on Black bookstores in the country.
I have a book where the author wrote, and I quote, "A #1 National Bestseller" on the cover. This this case it was clearly a gross exaggeration. More accurately categorized as a lie. In this case that claim hurt my initial impression of the book.
I've even made the clain that AALBC.com is the most popular and largest web site devoted to AA Literature on the Internet. Sounds like a remarkable claim, but by all indications this is a true statement -- I would not make the statment otherwise.
It really depends upon the context and the purpose for any best, most, biggest claim.
I think most people already recognize that folks are going to claim that their product is the best, biggest, most popular, in an advertisment. I've also found if you try to explain to people why -- their eyes glaze over, so it is easier to make the claim. Far more people would be impressed by the claim -- only a small minority would be inclined to challenge a likely false claim. Besides I doubt the commercial was targeted to someone thinking deep enough to challenge the claim. Brian what was the advertisement for; the stage play or a book?
Picking aopart the statement “E. Lynn Harris is THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BLACK MALE AUTHOR OF ALL TIME…”: The phase "of all time" is a gross eggageration when applied to anything. "All Tine" is a mighly long time. Obviously we don't have that ability to measure anything across all time. But it sounds a lot better than say the last 100 years or so when the time period is more meaningful. Black men have only been publishing book a hot minute as far as all time is concerned.
Noticed that they did not Black "Male" even the most causal of observer could dismiss that claim if women were included.
Confining our comparision to male authors: E. Lynn has poblished 9 books -- a comendable feat, but by no means prodigious. Walter Mosely on the other hand has just about as many books in his Easy Rawlings series alone. Now I don't know who has sold more books. But knowing Walter has published many more books that are read by a much broader audience -- that is enough information to cast doubt on the claim, made in the ad, for me.
It is not like the claim was being made in an reference book -- where you expect unbaised honesty. It was a advetisement, where the goal is to convince you to do something you might not otherwise do. A certain measure of hype is expected.
However I think this unsubtainitated assesrtion is probably a bit much. They could have easily said “E. Lynn Harris is ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BLACK MALE AUTHOR OF ALL TIME…” and no one could have said a thing.
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Lambd
Regular Poster
Username: Lambd
Post Number: 36
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 08:08 pm: |
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Okay, color me really, really stupid, but,...where does Muhammad Ali fit into all of this? Someone have mercy on this poor, unsophisticated, behind the times idiot, by the name of Lambd, and tell me why this thread has this title and noone other than Troy even mentions Ali's name? I know I'm slow, but I didn't think I was that dense that I could miss such a connection. I have read three of E. Lynn Harris' books, and they were interesting until I got sick to my stomach from the male on female and suddenly male finds out that he's really attracted to other males story line. At first it was wild. My curiosity got the best of me. I kept wanting to know if the main characters were going to get it in the ass, or if something else extraordinary was going to happen. When the main character kept getting shanked with the big one, I lost interest...But what does that have to do with the champ? Harris is a descriptive writer though. If anyone wants to know what its like to be bi-sexual, without really being bi-sexual, read his books. He'll put you right in the middle of it. He will take you there with no holds barred. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 125
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 09:35 pm: |
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Troy, as you have implied, all advertising and marketing have at their core the "power of suggestion" technique. So If you plant an idea in the heads of gullible consumers, it will become embedded in their subconscious and they'll believe it.
Lambd, reading your critque of Harris' books makes me wonder. With this growing trend of people experimenting with their sexuality, in the distant future, E. Lynn Harris may end up being the defining voice that set the trend for a society that evolved into a culture where the sexes are interchangeable.
BTW, I guess since Muhammad Ali always proclaimed that he was the greatest, his name was invoked in this conversation about the superlative claim made about E. Lynn Harris |
Lambd
Regular Poster
Username: Lambd
Post Number: 37
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 07:31 am: |
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Excellent! I guess that does make my head extremely thick. I was looking for something deeper, and it was just as plain as the nose on my face. Thank you so much for pointing that out and helping me to realize just how stupid I really am. I should be on my knees right now, thanking god that the comparison wasn't a snake because I would surely be bitten right now. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 128
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 12:09 pm: |
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Don't be so hard on yourself, Lambd! Injecting Muhammad Ali's name in the same sentence with E. Lynn Harris was a stretch. Get off your knees, guy! |
Lambd
Regular Poster
Username: Lambd
Post Number: 38
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 12:28 pm: |
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Most people just have some sort of metal attached to their member. Extremely special people get to be 'Posters' and the AALBC also claims these people as one of their own. My little green eyed monster has noticed that you are indeed more than just C-neek, now. You are OFFICIALLY an 'AALBC.com Platinum Poster'. Congratulations! I guess that makes me a green hater. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 129
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 01:41 pm: |
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Lambd, I continue to be a little mystified about these ratings but I think they have something to do with the amount of times someone have posted. So, my being a platinum member is probably because I have volunteered my opinion 128 times and this is more than anyone else has done. Don't hate me because I'm a busybody. LOL |
Yukio
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yukio
Post Number: 105
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 01:47 pm: |
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thats funny...cynique...i'm catching up! lmao! |
Lambd
Regular Poster
Username: Lambd
Post Number: 39
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 03:15 pm: |
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It's cool, C-neek, I hate Yukio, too. I'm an equal opportunity hater! Now,lyao! |
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